[Ethics Gradient]

I just poped out to get a couple of dvd's to watch tonight after the rugby, and walked straight into a blazing inferno.

Someone had set fire to a large metal skip type bin that was underneath part of the charity shop next door to our local Video rental place.

It had seriously taken hold and was starting to ignite the buildings materials, but luckily I managed to find an old metal hat stand and pull it out from underneath, and put the fires behind it out while waiting for the fire brigade.

....... if I or others had not been there people could have died because residential flats form part of the building, or at the very least thousands of pound of damage caused.

Should we still carry on celebrating they way we do, knowing that it is now the busiest time of year for the fire service who have to risk their lives putting the hundreds of fires that are started by kids this time of year !

[Liquid101]

There will always be a mindless teenager willing to set fire something just for the sake of it. I seriously doubt that banning fireworks/bonfire night will have any effect on it - in fact it some ways it may make things worse.

I'd far rather these kids use professionally made fireworks illegally in the local park, than try to make their own from petrol and milk bottles. Which is what would happen if they couldn't pick them up at Tescos

Anyway, it's possible that this skip was set alight from a discarded cigarette butt - perhaps we should ban smoking in the open air as well to be on the safe side

[Ethics Gradient]

Originally Posted by Liquid101

There will always be a mindless teenager willing to set fire something just for the sake of it. I seriously doubt that banning fireworks/bonfire night will have any effect on it - in fact it some ways it may make things worse.

I'd far rather these kids use professionally made fireworks illegally in the local park, than try to make their own from petrol and milk bottles. Which is what would happen if they couldn't pick them up at Tescos

Anyway, it's possible that this skip was set alight from a discarded cigarette butt - perhaps we should ban smoking in the open air as well to be on the safe side

I know what you are saying, but in this case we are pretty sure it was kids - there was no one else around and just before I left the shop, the owner told me he had heard them out the back.

I don't want to stop the fun - hell I loved it when i was a kid and got up to no end of mischief.
But I can't help feel we are simply not doing enough to try and reduce the problems it causes..... having just been burnt and paniced by it, it may be skewing my view at this moment.

[signs]

Originally Posted by Liquid101

There will always be a mindless teenager willing to set fire something just for the sake of it. I seriously doubt that banning fireworks/bonfire night will have any effect on it - in fact it some ways it may make things worse.

I'd far rather these kids use professionally made fireworks illegally in the local park, than try to make their own from petrol and milk bottles. Which is what would happen if they couldn't pick them up at Tescos

Anyway, it's possible that this skip was set alight from a discarded cigarette butt - perhaps we should ban smoking in the open air as well to be on the safe side

can you still get milk bottles ?

(Dave, Iron Giant, if your looking in i'm just waiting for the next feed you know how it is )

[abraxus]

Firstly I'm not quite sure how the starting of this fire has anything to with fireworks. Surely if kids want to start a fire they'll do so whether bonfire night exists or not.

Secondly I don't believe in restricting the enjoyment of the many because of the abuse by the few. We don't ban cars because some idiots drink and drive nor do we ban Christmas because the odd Santa may be too friendly with the kids.

There is, and always has been in my opinion, only one way to stop people doing these things, and that it is to make the punishments for doing so sufficiently severe that people are deterred from doing it.

[Ethics Gradient]

Originally Posted by abraxus

Firstly I'm not quite sure how the starting of this fire has anything to with fireworks. Surely if kids want to start a fire they'll do so whether bonfire night exists or not.

Secondly I don't believe in restricting the enjoyment of the many because of the abuse by the few. We don't ban cars because some idiots drink and drive nor do we ban Christmas because the odd Santa may be too friendly with the kids.

There is, and always has been in my opinion, only one way to stop people doing these things, and that it is to make the punishments for doing so sufficiently severe that people are deterred from doing it.

It's just that at this time of year due to bonfire night and fireworks, the number of fires started goes up considerably - just ask any fireman.

They tend to be out with fireworks - with a means of lighting them. Certainly their are a majority of them that do absolutley no harm.

The fact remains that fires caused by teenagers / children rises significantly when it comes time for bonfire night and fireworks.

[TopMeTom]

I hate fireworks, even more so now we have a rescue dog who nearly dies every time one of these huge booms goes off.

All it does is make a bang, at least buy rockets that make nice light displays.....

[geomuss]

Originally Posted by Ethics Gradient

I just poped out to get a couple of dvd's to watch tonight after the rugby, and walked straight into a blazing inferno.

Someone had set fire to a large metal skip type bin that was underneath part of the charity shop next door to our local Video rental place.

It had seriously taken hold and was starting to ignite the buildings materials, but luckily I managed to find an old metal hat stand and pull it out from underneath, and put the fires behind it out while waiting for the fire brigade.

....... if I or others had not been there people could have died because residential flats form part of the building, or at the very least thousands of pound of damage caused.

Should we still carry on celebrating they way we do, knowing that it is now the busiest time of year for the fire service who have to risk their lives putting the hundreds of fires that are started by kids this time of year !

you will find in this case this nothing more that malicious damage, or willful fire raising.

this is a regular occurence all over edinburgh regardless of the time of year.

most companies know that if they are using a skip, there is a chance it will get set alight.

If the skip is parked close to other buildings etc etc they should have used a closed over one.

not that i am condoning what the kids did.

but the builders or whoever could have had a bit of foresight.

i actually feel sorry for a lot of kids, who spend a month or so collecting goods, normally rubbish that maybe in our gardens etc. drag the stuff miles using any transport necessary.

build the grandest of bonfires, well away from any buildings or flammable objects.

only to have it extinguished as soon as its started

poor sods!