Bonfire night passes with few incidents
Few troublesome incidents were reported to the emergency services as thousands enjoyed private and public displays across the three towns.
One of the big successes of the November 5 celebrations was the first organised pyrotechnical extravaganza on the Watcombe estate in Torquay.
Watcombe Primary School hosted the event which fire chiefs declared a 'brilliant success'.
The brigade's community safety coordinator, Pat Tyler, said: "We've had the idea of doing this for the last few years. It went very well. It was great to see so many families out together obviously enjoying themselves. It's something we would like to do every year."
He reckoned as many as 1,000 people attended the Watcombe event which included a barbecue and the hiring of a local disc jockey.
"In the run-up to Guy Fawkes Night we had just one rubbish fire reported in the Watcombe area, which is an amazing statistic when you compare it to a few years ago when we could receive up to a dozen 999 shouts a night. It's a remarkable turnaround," said Mr Tyler.
Torquay Fire Station watch commander Dave Crawford agreed that the night had been comparatively quiet.
Just six incidents were reported over a two-hour period in Torquay with a clean sheet kept in Paignton and Brixham.
Half of the six emergencies were in Chelston, the first at St Peter's Close at 7.36pm when builders' rubbish was torched on a grass bank.
Just six minutes later crew attended Pretty Park off Old Mill Road where fire-raisers had set light to newspapers under a shrubbery.
And just after 8pm firefighters completed their hat-trick of Chelston call-outs with attendance at Victoria Park off Sherwell Lane where they found an unattended bonfire.
Other shouts were at Lower Union Lane where smoke from nearby bonfires triggered fire alarms at the telephone exchange where a window had been left pen.
The 8.30pm emergency was followed half-an-hour later by a metal bin being set alight in Marnham Road, Plainmoor.
The last call of the night was at 9.38pm when a small fire was started by someone allegedly walking around with a petrol can.
Police echoed the 'all quiet' report from firefighters.
Bay commander Supt Chris Singer said: "Very few incidents came to our attention. They were even fewer than last year which was quiet. Everything went very smoothly. We were particularly heartened by the success of the Watcombe event. We would encourage similar displays on other estates across the Bay. They are a good idea."
Former councillor and chairman of the Acorn Centre, Gordon Jennings added: "It was a tremendous success, considering we had just six weeks to organise it. The team who worked on it were absolutely outstanding, including all the local agencies. It's acted as a kick-start for getting things together in the future."
BONFIRE NIGHT DELIGHT: Picture special Page 18.
