NI firefighters deal with ‘challenging night' ahead of July 12th parades

Irish Times

3 days ago

Firefighters in
Northern Ireland
said they dealt with a challenging night as bonfires were lit ahead of the July 12th celebrations.
Tens of thousands will take to the streets across the North for the traditional
Orange Order
parades on Saturday.
The events will be spread across 19 main locations to mark the 334th anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne where the Protestant King William of Orange triumphed over the Catholic King James II.
It comes after the burning of bonfires at an estimated 300 locations in loyalist neighbourhoods on Thursday and Friday nights.
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While most of the bonfires passed off peacefully, there was
condemnation after effigies of migrants in a boat were burned on a bonfire in Moygashel, Co Tyrone.
Pictures of the rap band
Kneecap
and Irish flags were also burned on other pyres.
But the most contentious bonfire was located on a site containing asbestos and close to an electricity sub station off the Donegall Road in south Belfast.
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The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) said it dealt with 72 bonfire related incidents across the evening.
One firefighter was attacked while attending a bonfire in Lisburn, Co Antrim.
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NIFRS area commander Andy Burns said: 'Between 6pm 11 July and 2am 12 July 2025, we received 277 emergency 999 calls.
'This resulted in our firefighters attending 194 operational incidents, 72 of which were bonfire related. Peak activity was between 10pm and 1am.
'During this period, the number of emergency calls received increased by 154 per cent when compared to 2024.
'It was a challenging and extremely busy night for NIFRS with an increase in demand for our regional control centre and emergency response,' he said.
'Disappointingly, a firefighter was attacked while attending a bonfire in Lisburn. They were not injured and remained on duty.
'This was an isolated incident and not reflective of the support shown to firefighters in carrying out their duties across the evening.'
Firefighters work to protect an electricity sub station as a bonfire burns at Meridi Street, off the Donegall Road in Belfast. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire
Of all the loyal order parades to take place on Saturday, around 30 have been officially categorised as sensitive by the Parades Commission.
Locations of sensitive parades this year include Belfast, Coleraine, Keady, Dunloy, Rasharkin, Strabane, Newtownabbey, Maghera, Newtownbutler, Portadown, Glengormley and Bellaghy.
More than 4,000 police officers and police staff will be working on July 12th.
On the 11th night, around 1,200 officers were deployed to monitor public safety at bonfires.
The cost of policing parades and bonfires in Northern Ireland through spring and summer was £6.1 million last year, a figure that was up £1.5 million on the previous year.
The bill, which covers the period April 1 to August 31, also includes the cost of policing republican commemorations around Easter and events to mark the mid-August anniversary of the introduction of internment without trial during the Troubles.
The PSNI expects the costs in 2025 to be higher still. This is due to falling police numbers and the resultant increased reliance on paying overtime to ensure enough officers are on duty for the events.
Chief Constable Jon Boutcher has urged mutual respect in the marking of events.
'Our officers will be on the ground throughout the weekend, working in partnership with community leaders, event organisers, and local representatives to support lawful, peaceful, and family-friendly events. However where necessary, we will take firm and proportionate action to keep people safe,' he said.
'Our priority remains the safety and wellbeing of everyone.'
On Sunday morning, an Orange Order parade has been permitted to pass Ardoyne shops in north Belfast restricted to one band and 50 members of the order. It is a return parade at a former flashpoint which traditionally took place on the evening of July 12th often resulting in violent scenes.
Meanwhile, the traditional July 13th events organised by the Royal Black Preceptory in the village of Scarva, Co Armagh will take place on Monday.
The event includes a parade as well as a sham fight between actors playing rival monarchs William and James. - PA