Dublin Fire Brigade reported handling 558 calls on Halloween night, the highest volume in over a decade, according to Chief Fire Officer Greg O’Dwyer. This surpasses the 320 calls recorded on October 31, last year, and the 494 calls from the same date in 2024, which had previously been deemed the busiest Halloween in a decade. O’Dwyer noted 483 Dublin ambulance calls and 338 East Region fire calls were also processed, totaling over 1,350 incidents. “A very busy night in the ERCC tonight,” he said, adding that a full breakdown would be released later.
Halloween Call Surge Attributed to Weather and Timing
O’Dwyer attributed the spike to a “perfect storm” of dry weather and Halloween falling on a Saturday night. A recent incident involving fireworks resulted in a person losing a hand, according to O’Dwyer.
Kilbarrack firefighters at a fire in a clothes bank. Crews used a consaw to gain access and a high pressure hose reel to extinguish.#SafeAtSamhain #Halloween pic.twitter.com/rvmHZ5vdba
Firefighters Managing Bonfires and Safety Risks
Dublin Fire Brigade responded to multiple bonfires and domestic fires, including one that ignited a derelict house in Mulhuddart. Firefighters from Tara Street and North Strand stations rescued three dogs from a house fire. O’Dwyer stated that large bonfires near populated areas, under overhead wires, or involving toxic fumes were prioritized. He also noted the need for collaboration with An Garda Síochána and the Public Order Unit to address antisocial elements. “Our biggest worry is just to make sure that all of our crews go home safe in the morning to their loved ones,” he said.
Urgent Warnings on Illegal Fireworks
O’Dwyer urged parents to direct children to organized events, citing licensed firework displays and family-friendly activities as safer alternatives. “Much more fun than standing around a cold night, standing around a bonfire with toxic fumes coming off it,” he said. He criticized the accessibility of unregulated fireworks, which he linked to increased risks of injury. “The problem is with these fireworks, they’re completely unregulated. They’re illegal for a reason,” he added.
