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Hundreds of bonfires were lit across Northern Ireland on Thursday night.

The beginning of the annual Twelfth events, thousands gathered around their local pyres.

The fire service said that there was a reduction in reported bonfire incidents this year.

A spokesman said: “Between 6pm 11 July and 1am 12 July 2019, Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) received a total of 136 emergency calls and mobilised to 91 operational incidents, 34 of these were bonfire related.

"This represents a 40% decrease on the number of bonfire incidents attended during the same period in 2018. This is the lowest number of bonfire related incidents received by NIFRS since 2015.

"The majority of bonfire incidents required limited intervention by NIFRS resulting in the attendance of one appliance.

"NIFRS maintained normal service delivery throughout the evening attending a range of non- bonfire related operational incidents, including a full emergency at George Best Belfast City Airport, a number of property fires, special service calls and a hazmat incident involving acetylene cylinders.

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"There were no attacks on NIFRS crews or appliances whilst carrying out their operational activities throughout the province”.

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