Firefighters have urged members of the Jewish community to avoid lighting bonfires during this year’s Lag B’Omer festival to prevent fires from spreading.
The festival is set to begin on the evening of Thursday 29th April and end on the evening of Friday 30th April.
Lag B'Omer is a Jewish holiday celebrating a break in a plague that is said to have occurred during the days of an important Rabbi.
As part of Lag B'Omer, the community light bonfires and throw parties.
GMFRS have also reminded local residents to safely celebrate this year’s festival by avoiding large gatherings and only meeting friends and family under the latest national coronavirus guidance and restrictions.
The fire service has released a guideline on fire safety should residents decide to light a bonfire in celebration of the festival.
Fire safety advice includes:
Bonfires should be 18 metres from buildings, trees, fences, overhead cables and car parking areas.
Only burn clean, dry timber. Don’t burn aerosols, batteries, bottles, foam-filled furniture, tins of paint and tyres.
Bonfires should be no more than 3metres in height. Household residents spectating should be at least 5 metres away.
Never use petrol, paraffin, diesel and white or methylated spirit to light the bonfire. Use firelighters instead.
Keep some buckets of water nearby in case of emergency and to damp down after the event.
Always extinguish your bonfire once your party has finished.
Head of prevention, area manager Paul Duggan said: “If you are celebrating Lag B’Omer this year, please be careful and be safe. I strongly suggest people don’t light bonfires as these can easily get out of control and spread.
“We are also urging people to not hold or attend large gatherings. We all still need to take steps to keep each other and our communities safe from coronavirus so if you do decide to meet with family and friends during the festival, please follow the latest guidance and regulations.
“If you do decide to have a bonfire, please do so safely and follow our important safety advice. Lastly, from everyone at GMFRS, to all the Jewish community, a safe and happy Lag B’Omer.”
You can find more safety advice on their website.
