Attacks on Firefighters

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BRIGADES UNDER FIRE

THERE were almost 400 attacks on fire crews in Scotland last year and the problem is getting worse, according to research.

A report published yesterday for the Fire Brigades' Union revealed there were 40 attacks a day on UK fire crews.

The research has found that crews are attacked by gangs of youths who hurl bricks, bottles and missiles at them as they fight fires.

Last night, FBU general secretary Andy Gilchrist said: 'It is only a question of time before a firefighter is killed.'

Yesterday, the Record told how teenager Martin Wason was caged for four years for leading a 17-strong mob in a vicious attack on a fire crew in Coatbridge, Lanarkshire





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Kids firebomb firefighters

A STORM of Molotov cocktails were hurled at firefighters while they struggled to fight a Chorlton blaze.

Two crews responded to reports that a fire had been started in Aveson Avenue, late on Saturday night – only to find themselves under a hail of petrol bombs.

Fire service chiefs have hit out at the yobs after engines and officers were pelted with the incendiaries, describing the mentality of the culprits as ‘beyond comprehension’.

Luckily, no one was injured during the attack and there was no lasting damage done to property.

But police are still investigating the incident, saying a number of bottles full of flammable liquid were thown by youths.

Firefighters said a further two bottles were found behind a garden wall, ready to be flung.

Two young teenagers were arrested for attempted criminal damage, and released, without charge, on police bail until Saturday, July 16, pending further investigation.

Ian Bailey, of the fire service, said: “Why anyone would throw a petrol bomb at firefighters is beyond comprehension.

“If firefighters or the equipment they use are damaged, it can result in fire engines being out of service, which impacts on the community as a whole.â€

Mr Bailey added: “The action of these people puts lives at risk in more ways than one.â€

Philip Robinson, secretary of Chorlton Civic Society, said: “It is extremely disturbing that youths from, or visiting the area, are involved in such reckless incidents. The firefighters do a dangerous and valuable job, and should not have to face more risk than they do at the hands of these mindless people.â€

Chorlton councillor Angela Gallagher said: “It seems to be a worrying nationwide trend to draw firemen into traps and attack them but fire bombs are an unbelievable step further. They are cowardly yobbos who must be stopped now.â€


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Firefighters\' plea to stop abuse

Firefighters have called for a national strategy to deal with the rising number of attacks on fire crews.
The Fire Brigades Union said attacks were being carried out at the rate of 40 a week.

Bricks and bottles had been thrown at crews, while other attacks saw scaffolding poles thrown through fire engine windscreens.

FBU general secretary Andy Gilchrist said it was only "a question of time" before a firefighter was killed.

The union's research had shown crews were being subjected to abuse while fighting fires, had their equipment stolen or tampered with, or were urinated on.

'Getting worse'

On other occasions, false emergency calls were made in a deliberate attempt to lure fire crews into ambushes.

The FBU said 1,200 attacks had been reported in Northern Ireland in the last three years, while 388 attacks had been reported in Scotland in 2004.

In England and Wales, in the nine-month period to the end of January 2005, from data from 18 of 50 brigades, 393 attacks were reported.

Some of the most serious incidents included:


Easterhouse, Glasgow, 2 March 2005: Crews shot at with an airgun while tending a house fire.

Rochdale, Greater Manchester, 1 April 2005: Fire crews pelted with rocks and forced to withdraw.

Walsall, West Midlands, Jan 17, 2005: Youths as young as 12 attack firefighters tackling a house fire. Police attending the scene are also hit with bottles, bricks and stones.

Tilbury, Essex, 26 November 2004: Crews hit with missiles while attending a playground fire. Youths threaten firefighters with knives and cut water supplies.
Mr Gilchrist said: "The number and ferocity of the attacks appears to be getting worse. A young boy died in Scotland during one attack and it is only a question of time before a firefighter is killed.

"These attacks are inexcusable and must not be tolerated. It can never be part of anyone's job to get a brick or bottle in the head or to be spat at.

"There is no quick-fix solution but we need to start with a properly resourced, national strategy rather than it being left to cash-strapped local fire services," he said.


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Man jailed for punching fireman

A man who punched a firefighter in the face as his colleagues fought a blaze in Belfast, has been jailed for a year.
Martin McCoey, 26, from Kansas Avenue, north Belfast, pleaded guilty to the assault and was sentenced at Belfast Crown Court on Wednesday.

The judge told McCoey that such "outrageous and nasty" behaviour would not be tolerated by the courts.

She said that "a clear signal" had to be sent out that such behaviour would be met with an immediate jail sentence.

The court was told that McCoey was one of a group of men who attacked the firefighters as they fought a fire at Cedar Avenue, north Belfast, on 29 May, 2004.

After a bottle had been thrown at the firemen, McCoey appeared to apologise to one officer and proffered his hand before lashing out and punching him in the face.

Officers were forced to abandon the scene and only returned under protection of the police who arrested McCoey after he was pointed out by the injured firefighter.

'Thoroughly ashamed'


A defence lawyer said McCoey was "thoroughly ashamed" of himself.

He said that while it was no excuse, it was "a case of when the drink's in, the wit's out".

McCoey was jailed for six months on the assault and six months from previous suspended terms was brought into effect, making an effective sentence of 12 months.

Judge Loughran said that while she accepted his genuine remorse, the court had to protect those who dedicated themselves to public service.


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[barney]

And about time too!

Lets hope the rest of the thugs read what can happen and take note. It's taken a long time to take them to task and hand down realistic sentences.

[The Wise Old Owl]

Ambulance shot at during call out

An ambulance which was shot at in Gloucester had a hole the size of a 50p coin blown out of the window.
The incident took place on Trier Way near the Peel Centre junction on Thursday as the ambulance was answering an emergency call.

Police say the crew heard a loud bang as the vehicle was hit, but added that nobody inside was hurt.

Officers believe an airgun was used for the attack which they are describing as "very serious".

'Reckless action'

No patients were in the ambulance at the time, but its blue lights were flashing.

Philip Selwood, Chief Executive of Gloucestershire Ambulance NHS Trust, said: "Thankfully our crew were not injured during the incident, but the outcome could potentially have been tragic.

"It is extremely sad that our staff have been subjected to such an attack during the course of their duty, and especially so when they were answering an emergency call.

"I cannot stress too highly the potential consequences of this type of reckless action, both to members of the Ambulance Service and to the member of the public who required emergency assistance."

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[The Wise Old Owl]

Dear All

Please see the message below. Any members who may be able to assist David should contact him direct.

andy





We are are looking to get first hand testimony and interviews from officers invloved in attacks and hoaxes for a programme we are planning on this subject next month.

Also video footage of incidents, audio recordings of hoax calls - which can often be connected to attacks

Interviews with senior officers about the level of problems and the level of their concern

Initiatives being launched to tackle the problems of hoaxers and attacks.

Access to crews to film in trouble-spot areas.

This is for the Tonight with Trevor McDonald programme next month.

As well as the number and e-mail below I can be contacted on 07775 756606.



David Nolan

Producer - Tonight

0161 827 2661

david.nolan@itv.com

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Yobs hurl bottles at city firefighters

STUDENTS ambushed firefighters and pelted them with glass bottles and eggs from a sixth-floor window in an early morning attack.

A crew went to the Exchange Works, Arundel Street, Sheffield, after an emergency glass panel was smashed to raise the alarm.
When they arrived firefighters found it was a false alarm and were bombarded with wine bottles, beer bottles and eggs.
Crew manager Mark McCreesh branded the prank "utter stupidity" and said it could have had fatal consequences.
"Fortunately we were kitted out in our protective uniforms but if an innocent member of the public had been walking past at the time and a bottle hit their head, they could have been killed," he said.
"It might have seemed like a funny prank at the time, but we have taken it extremely seriously because of the potential for injury.
"We go to work to do a job, which is to do all we can to save lives and property, we don't go expecting to come under attacks like this.
"We have enough to think about in this job without the extra pressure of mindless attacks to think about too.
"It is the first time I have known glass bottles being deliberately thrown at firefighters and from such a height. This is as bad as it gets and it is just luck that nobody was hurt.
"These people just don't realise the consequences of their actions. For example they find it funny to use the glass alarm panels for target practice, throwing things like oranges at them to set them off."
The attack, at 2.50am yesterday, has been reported to South Yorkshire Fire Service's health and safety department and is to be investigated.
Police who arrived at the flats after the emergency alarm was sounded were told of the ambush which came in the same week firefighters from some South Yorkshire stations said they had to turn out in double force to some fires in areas where they had come under attack.
They said when they spotted gangs near a blaze and knew nobody was trapped or at risk, they refused to get out of their engines until police arrived to clear the area. They revealed they had been fired at with an air rifle and had bricks and bottles hurled at them.
They spoke out after the Fire Brigades' Union said there were up to 40 attacks a week in the country
General secretary Andy Gilchrist said some fires were deliberately started to lure firefighters into ambushes and it was "only a question of time before a firefighter is killed".
He called for a national strategy to combat increasing number of assaults on fire crews, rather than expecting local fire services to come up with their own.
Mr Gilchrist said: "The number and ferocity of the attacks appears to be getting worse.
"These attacks are inexcusable and must not be tolerated.
"It can never be part of anyone's job to get a brick or bottle in the head, or to be spat at."


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Youths ambush firefighters

FIREFIGHTERS were bombarded with rocks and missiles after responding to a 999 call at a high school.

The crew had been told that bushes in the grounds were alight.

But when they arrived, a group of youths ambushed them, throwing objects.

Today police said the area around Darwen Vale High School, where the incident occurred had the highest level of juvenile nuisance in the borough.

They have launched a joint investigation with the fire brigade and urged parents to take responsibility for their children's actions.

A fire spokesman said crew were ambushed when they arrived at the school in Blackburn Road, Darwen, at 11.30pm on Saturday.

He added: "Most of us have had objects thrown at us over the years and some people call us out just so they can throw things at us.

"We all accept that we do a dangerous job but could do without members of the public trying to purposefully injure us.

People don't realise that if we get injured we will be out of action and then will not be able to respond to those calls where lives could be at risk."

The attack comes just days after it was revealed that the number of attacks on firefighters answering calls is at a record high.

The Fire Brigade Union said there were up to 40 attacks every week and have warned that it is only a matter of time before a firefighter is killed.

Police Inspector Stuart Bruce said: "At the moment that area in Darwen is suffering from the highest amount of juvenile nuisance in any part of Blackburn with Darwen.

"This incident is another example in an escalating catalogue of incidents which have taken place in this area.

Parents must take serious responsibility for where their children are and what they are doing.

"We will be talking to the fire brigade about any criminal action that has been taken against them - particularly while they are responding to emergency calls.

"We will gather evidence of any aggressive behaviour towards the fire service and will prosecute."



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[The Wise Old Owl]

Firefighters attacked at bonfire

Firefighters have been attacked in the Crumlin Road area of north Belfast.
It happened at about 2230 BST on Tuesday after crews were called to Florence Court. When they arrived they found youths standing around a bonfire.

They agreed not to put it out, but stones were thrown at the two fire engines as they left.

No one was hurt in the incident, which happened near the old courthouse. Two 18-year-old men have been arrested and charged with riotous behaviour.

The windscreen was smashed on one fire engine and the cab and locker doors damaged on the other.

Station Officer Tim Entwhistle said a driver could have been seriously hurt.

"It could have been a lot worse if the brick had come through it would have hit the driver in the head," he said.

"The seriousness of the matter is that that fire engine will be out of action.

"Unfortunately that means that's a fire engine that can't respond to a potentially serious incident, such as a house fire with people in it."

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