While this year's Twelfth has been one of the quietest in recent years - something that will regarded with relief throughout the north - it is clear that considerable issues remain over some Eleventh Night bonfires.
These concerns are centred on the towering pyres that present a safety and environmental hazard and place an unnecessary burden on the fire service.
There is also the problem of completely unacceptable displays on bonfires which this year included a racist slur against Celtic footballer Scott Sinclair which appeared at Avoniel Leisure Centre car park as well as a coffin bearing an image of the late Martin McGuinness which was placed on a pyre at Clonduff estate off the Castlereagh Road in Belfast.
Bonfires elsewhere bore the election posters of Sinn Féin and SDLP candidates.
There can be no possible excuse for offensive displays and at the very least the PSNI must examine banners and effigies to determine if they constitute a hate crime and take appropriate action.
When it came to lighting the bonfires, fortunately there was no repeat of last year's shocking incident when fire damaged a number of homes in the lower Shankill area.
However, it was only thanks to the efforts of the fire service that a bonfire did not spread to a block of flats in Sandy Row, Belfast.
As it was, such was the intensity of the heat that windows on one side of the block were cracked and damaged and the whole experience must have been terrifying for residents.
Despite working to prevent a disastrous outcome in this area, firefighters came under attack from local youths as they left the scene. A fire crew was also attacked leaving a bonfire in Larne.
On what was described as an `exceptionally busy' night, firefighters dealt with 40 bonfire related incidents, 21 per cent up on last year, while also responding to a high number of call outs.
Earlier on Tuesday DUP leader Arlene Foster claimed there was a campaign to `demonise' the bonfires that have long been part of the unionist culture.
However, her lengthy statement did not mention the injunction taken out by Belfast City Council and supported by unionist councillors which is aimed at tackling the dangerous structures that create concern and cause damage.
Given the close call at the apartment block on the Eleventh Night and the clear safety issues experienced in other areas, it is plainly irresponsible for these enormous bonfires to be built near homes and businesses.
Urging safer bonfires free from offensive displays should not be regarded as a threat to anyone's culture.
