ORGANISERS of the Witton Park bonfire, due to be held on Saturday November 3, say the accident in Rishton, which left three teenage youths badly burned, highlights the dangers of unorganised fires.

This years event may have to be cancelled because of a fall in donations -- and that may mean more unorganised fires and more accidents.

James Foster, 15, Anthony Cooper, 13 and Jack Entwistle, 15, were swimming in the River Calder close to where a small bonfire had been lit last Wednesday.

They were seriously injured when a metal chemical can marked flammable exploded after being thrown on to the fire.

Anthony and James were left with severe burns and Jack with less serious injuries.

James and Jack are being treated at Booth Hall Hospital Burns Unit, Blackley, Manchester, and Anthony, who is the most seriously injured, is in the special burns unit at the Preston Royal Infirmary.

Chairman of the bonfire committee and vice-president of the Blackburn Rotaract Geoff Moss said: "There are always barriers around our fire and fireworks displays. The displays are handled by a team of experts and members of the Rotaract patrol the park, making sure that everything is as safe as possible.

"People are always better off attending an organised fire and the accident at Rishton demonstrates the strength of that opinion."

The accident follows Blackburn fire Station Commander Jim Owen telling the Lancashire Evening Telegraph: "If people are going to attend a bonfire, we would prefer them to do it in a controlled environment, like that of Witton Park.

"The fire is always well marshalled and people are on hand should anything go wrong. The same protection is not immediately on hand for those attending smaller, unorganised fires."

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