Edinburgh Weather: Warning of icy fireworks night

Bonfire Night revellers have been warned to wrap up tonight as temperatures in the Lothians are set to plunge to around -3C.
Wrap up for bonfire night. Picture: Kenny SmithWrap up for bonfire night. Picture: Kenny Smith
Wrap up for bonfire night. Picture: Kenny Smith

Forecasters say temperatures in Scotland could fall as low as -9C, in sharp contrast to Halloween when they were around 19C.

Extra wardens will patrol the streets of the Capital to make Bonfire Night the “safest ever”, fire chiefs have pledged.

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Six community action teams – made up of one police officer and one firefighter – will be on the ground tonight as fireworks light up the sky, two more groups than last year. They will identify trouble hotspots and make sure that dangerous bonfires are cleared.

Bonfire Night is traditionally one of the busiest nights of the year for fire crews, with the number of calls typically rising by 40 per cent. Steve Gourley, fire service group manager of prevention and protection for Edinburgh, said: “Last year we put teams out, but not as many as there are this year.

“We are trying to reduce the impact that these bonfires have, not only on the community, but also on our resources. When our crews are called to attend bonfires it means we have to divert resources away from other emergencies and life-threatening calls – that could end tragically for ­anyone who truly needs our urgent help.”

The service is appealing to the public to attend organised events rather than staging their own bonfires or displays.

Firefighters are using shared intelligence from Police ­Scotland, the city council and the fire service to direct resources to areas where they’re needed.

Liberton, Gilmerton, Portobello, Craigmillar, Sighthill and Gorgie are among the areas which have traditionally kept firefighters particularly busy.

Crews have previously been attacked, ambushed and verbally abused while trying to put out dangerous bonfires.

Chief Superintendent Mark Williams, divisional commander for the City of ­Edinburgh, said that police would crack down on antisocial behaviour. “There will be extra ­officers on duty over the next few nights and they won’t tolerate antisocial behaviour or reckless conduct associated with ­fireworks,” he said.

Displays around the lothians

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• Meadowbank Sports Centre will host a fireworks display from 7.30pm tonight.

• Holyrood Park will be closed off to cars from 6pm until midnight in a bid to stop wildfires, which are often caused by stray fireworks. Police and Historic Scotland rangers will carry out joint patrols in the park throughout the evening.

• Tomorrow, Memorial Park will open its gates from 6pm for the Loanhead Community Fireworks Display, while St Peter’s Primary School in Morningside will kick off celebrations at 5pm, finishing at 7.30pm.

• On Saturday, Livingston Cricket Club will host its annual display from 7.30pm.