OVER THE 24 HOURS that encompass 31 October, Dublin Fire Brigade received 320 fire calls – 276 of which were Halloween-related.

Although the number may seem high, it was significantly reduced from last year, which saw 494 fire calls, 421 of which were Halloween-related.

The city council said it has “significantly reduced the risk to public safety and infrastructure” this Halloween through an effort to remove flammable materials, like pallets or tyres, intended for illegal bonfires.

Teams across the public domain, waste management, parks, and housing departments came together to work alongside gardaí to remove these materials to prevent stockpiling for Halloween.

A spokesperson for the city council said “the success of this initiative” was strengthened by the “vigilance of local communities” and support from the public.

“Reports made through the Citizen Hub played a key role in identifying and removing potential bonfire stockpiles before they posed a threat.”

Dublin Fire Brigade said the removal of stockpiled bonfire material, as well as heavy rain, resulted in the decreased number of calls this year.

“Dublin City Council extends its sincere thanks to all residents who remained alert and engaged, and to our partners in An Garda Síochána for their continued collaboration in keeping our city safe,” the spokesperson said.

The council’s spokesperson added that there are family-friendly events occurring over the weekend for Halloween.