The number of cars and homes catching fire during this year’s New Year festivities has far outstripped last year’s figures, according to the public safety institute NIPV.

This year the emergency services were called out to 361 car and 228 home fires, compared with 270 and 144 respectively in 2025.

The national fire brigade said on Thursday it had been a busier year, with 4,286 call-outs in total.

The emergency services were prepared for a difficult evening, given this was the last time consumers can legally set off fireworks.