With hundreds of bonfires expected to be lit throughout Dublin tonight, the Irish Fire and Emergency Services Association (IFESA) has expressed serious concerns about water restrictions that have been introduced in the capital.

Earlier this week, it was announced that water restrictions would be introduced throughout Dublin and in some parts of Wicklow and Kildare, due to a serious production problem at the Ballymore Eustace Water Treatment Plant.

The restrictions, which are expected to last until at least next Monday, will be in place nightly from 8pm to 7am, with some houses losing all water access.

However according to IFESA, this move ‘could not have come at a worse time for the fire services as it deals with one of its busiest periods over Halloween'.

"There is genuine concern about the pressure that the water restrictions will put on the services over the coming nights. Clearly it will be a drain on existing resources because additional fire engines, which carry a five minute water reserve in their tanks, will have to attend at the scene because of the lack of access to mains water and the limited access to rivers, canals and lakes from which to fill engine tanks.

"We know that a lot of bonfire material is stored and often lit in disused houses, flats and industrial units, so the fire hazards are increased considerably at this time of year," explained IFESA national chairman, John Kidd.

He insisted that there has not been enough investment in firefighting tankers to deal with water shortages and restrictions such as those introduced this week.

"There are currently only two firefighting tankers in the Dublin city and county fire service and management have not learned the lessons from previous water crisis in the city and county. We clearly need investment in tankers to create a bigger water reserve to deal with situations like the current one," Mr Kidd said.

IFESA is appealing to the public to be extra mindful of the water restrictions in place later on and to be particularly vigilant when it comes to lighting bonfires. Despite the fact that they are illegal, bonfires are still lit throughout the country every Halloween.

"Finally, we would also reiterate our appeal to the public throughout the country to ensure that firefighters and other emergency personnel are allowed to do their work over Halloween without injury and assault or damage to emergency vehicles," Mr Kidd added.