The number of bonfire-related and deliberate rubbish fires has significantly fallen in Lancashire.
Firefighters revealed that all 999 calls for October were down on last year’s figures, ahead of Bonfire Night on Monday.
Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service said prolonged wet weather was likely to be a key factor, along with the emergency services and council’s proactive work.
But firefighters were still expecting a busy weekend and warned that heavy rainfall could present a different risk as people look at ways to start fires in damp conditions.
A Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: “All 999 calls for October this year are down on last year and bonfire-related and deliberate rubbish fires are well down.
“Firefighters, police and councils, carting away rubbish before it is torched, take some credit in their preventative work, and the public too for responding well to it.
“But a major factor, it has to be acknowledged, is the exceptionally wet weather this year.”
He said there had been a drop in both bonfire-related calls, for example when somebody calls to say they are concerned about a bonfire next to a fence or their home, and incidents when a fire crew is actually mobilised to a bonfire.
He said: “We are conscious of the fact the action is likely to last over a long weekend for us, over Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Bonfire Night itself.
“It is always weather dependent and any wet weather is a deterrent. But if the weather is bad one night, it tends to move people to another night.
“If there is a lot of wet wood about people might resort to petrol to get fires started, which is an absolute no.
“Bonfires are very hazardous and it will undoubtedly be busy for us over the weekend.”
The service is advising that wherever possible, people should attend an organised bonfire and firework display.
Meanwhile, Lancashire County Council has urged people to think twice before setting off Chinese flying lanterns to mark winter festivities.
It reminded people of the problems they can cause to livestock and emergency services, in a call echoed by the National Farmers’ Union, Maritime and Coastguard Agency and Civil Aviation Authority.
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