Attacks on Firefighters

[The Wise Old Owl]

Cameras to foil fire crew attacks

Fire crews in south Wales are planning to install cameras on their vehicles to help combat increasing violence from gangs.
It follows a series of attacks on firefighters by groups of youths.

The latest were on Sunday in the south Wales valleys, when stones were thrown at a crew in Aberfan, and about 50 youths hurled builders' materials at another crew in Gilfach Goch.

Fire chiefs say blazes are often begun deliberately to lure crews to an area.


Violence against firefighters has become a major concern for fire service chiefs.

On Sunday, fire crews dealing with a fire involving rubber matting at the rear of Ynys Owen Nursery School in Aberfan had stones thrown at them by a group of youths.

Later on, another crew came under attack from a group of about 50 young people as they tackled two rubbish fires in the Hendreforgan area of Gilfach Goch.

South Wales Fire Service fears that more incidents are likely as the schools break up for half-term and bonfire night approaches.

In a trial, cameras are being installed on engines to film any attacks the crews come under while on call-outs.

Cameras have already been installed onto appliances in other brigades to deter gangs.

Roger Price, assistant divisional commander for South Wales Fire Service, said it was part of efforts to combat the growing problem of violence.

"It is to try and protect the fire crews - we hope it will deter these individuals who are willing to carry out these attacks," he said.


Recordings could be used to help police prosecute any individuals caught throwing missiles at the crews.

"There is definite evidence that some of these attacks are planned," he said.

Emergency treatment

"Quite often these fires have been started to lure fire crews into that area. It can occur any time and any place throughout south Wales.

"What concerns me is that there is the potential for death or serious injury from these attacks.

"They are throwing concrete bricks and it is quite scary," he added.


Some fire crews covering south Wales are subjected to almost daily attacks from gangs of youths.

Fire chiefs say the problem is becoming more violent and prolific and reports of violence against crews are on the increase.

Last October, a firefighter had to have emergency treatment after he was hit on the head by a brick thrown by a gang of youths.

The incident happened as a four-man crew tried to extinguish a rubbish fire in Trelewis near Merthyr Tydfil.

Youths stoned the fire engine before targeting the firefighters - hitting one of them on the head with a brick with such force that it split his helmet.

Firefighter Sabrina Cohen from Cross Keys is currently on an international fact-finding mission on how to deal with violence against fire crews, and her findings will be used by the brigade.

[brumble49]

Firefighters under attack

A fire crew in Northern Ireland has been attacked with fireworks near the border with the Irish Republic.
This was one of a series of attacks on firefighters across Northern Ireland as crowds lit bonfires and set off fireworks to celebrate 31 October, Halloween.

In another incident, a rocket was fired at an engine in Jonesborough, south Armagh.


In Belfast, a fire engine from Cadogan station on the Lisburn Road was forced off the road for a number of hours for repairs after a window was broken.

During a six-hour period on Sunday, firefighters responded to 370 calls.

Divisional Fire Officer John Smyth said this was up on the figure for Halloween night last year when there were 325 callouts.

The majority of these were calls to bonfires and other mostly secondary fires like blazing hedges, ditches, rubbish skips.

"There were several incidents across the province where crews were attacked which is a cause for major concern.

"We had been working with local communities in the run-up to last night to try and reduce the number of secondary fires and arson attacks as well as attacks on our crews.

"It is of major concern to us that our appliances are still being attacked when they arrive to tackle fires. It was just luck that no-one was injured.

He said people must realise these attacks not only put firefighters at risk, but they put the public at risk.

"If a fire appliance is forced off the road, that could be critical on a busy night like last night. Thankfully that situation did not arise."

During a peak period between 2200 GMT and 2300 GMT, the divisional control room for Northern Ireland in Lisburn dealt with 50 incidents across the province simultaneously.


Ambulance damaged

In Londonderry on Sunday, an ambulance crew was attacked during Halloween celebrations.

Police said the ambulance was attacked by a crowd in Bank Place, sustaining damage to a wing mirror.

Nine people were arrested for public order offences throughout the night and most were later released.

A number of assaults were also reported.

Police said there were fewer arrests than last year, when 11 people were detained.

They also said the level of arrests was not atypical for a weekend night in the city.

All of the arrests occurred in the early hours of the morning after the Halloween celebrations had ended.

A spokesman for the Police Service of Northern Ireland praised those involved in Londonderry's celebrations.

"To have such a large crowd take part, we are pleased that the festivities were enjoyed and almost everyone was well-behaved," he said.



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[general melchett]

"Firefighters under attack" - South Wales

Firefighters under attack
FIREFIGHTERS in Gwent were attacked with fireworks while dealing with an emergency call.

And a service spokesman has warned crews will be forced to withdraw from non-life threatening incidents in the future if the attacks continue.

A group of youths fired fireworks at firefighters tackling a vehicle fire on Ivydene Close in Trevethin, Pontypool, and the crews had to withdraw from the scene while they waited for police.

Just two weeks ago another fire crew was pelted with stones answering a minor call in Pontnewynydd.

Firefighter Craig Russell said: "We were called to a van fire in Trevethin and about three or four youths starting verbally abusing us.

"We carried on trying to put the fire out but about six more youths appeared and started lobbing fireworks at us.

"I rang control and asked for them to ring the police but it got to the point where we couldn't put the van fire out because it was too dangerous. Even when we were pulling off, a few bangers were thrown on top of the fire engine."

Community fire safety liaison officer Bruce Kilshaw said: "These people are using fireworks as lethal weapons - these things are explosives, and they are firing them at our crews."

Mr Kilshaw said all non-life threatening incidents would be risk assessed, with the result that officers who came under attack while dealing with routine calls would in future withdraw if necessary.

Anyone with information about the attack at about 9.30pm last Friday should call Pontypool police on 01495 764711, or Crimestoppers on 0800555111.


Link to original story
http://www.thisisgwent.co.uk/gwent/news/NEWS1.html

[general melchett]

"Firefighters under attack" - South Wales

Firefighters under attack
FIREFIGHTERS in Gwent were attacked with fireworks while dealing with an emergency call.

And a service spokesman has warned crews will be forced to withdraw from non-life threatening incidents in the future if the attacks continue.

A group of youths fired fireworks at firefighters tackling a vehicle fire on Ivydene Close in Trevethin, Pontypool, and the crews had to withdraw from the scene while they waited for police.

Just two weeks ago another fire crew was pelted with stones answering a minor call in Pontnewynydd.

Firefighter Craig Russell said: "We were called to a van fire in Trevethin and about three or four youths starting verbally abusing us.

"We carried on trying to put the fire out but about six more youths appeared and started lobbing fireworks at us.

"I rang control and asked for them to ring the police but it got to the point where we couldn't put the van fire out because it was too dangerous. Even when we were pulling off, a few bangers were thrown on top of the fire engine."

Community fire safety liaison officer Bruce Kilshaw said: "These people are using fireworks as lethal weapons - these things are explosives, and they are firing them at our crews."

Mr Kilshaw said all non-life threatening incidents would be risk assessed, with the result that officers who came under attack while dealing with routine calls would in future withdraw if necessary.

Anyone with information about the attack at about 9.30pm last Friday should call Pontypool police on 01495 764711, or Crimestoppers on 0800555111.


Link to original story
http://www.thisisgwent.co.uk/gwent/news/NEWS1.html

[brumble49]

Attacks could keep fire crews away

Attacks against fire crews are becoming so common officers may withdraw from all but emergency calls.
In one case, a crew was forced to stop tackling a vehicle fire in Pontypool, south Wales, when youngsters threw fireworks at them.

And on Tuesday, stone-throwing youths barricaded a road and prevented South Wales Fire Service getting to a house fire in Ely, Cardiff.

Attacks are so common officers were having to "like it or lump it".

It has got to the stage that crews are considering only attending certain calls if they have police protection.

The issue is to be discussed at a conference hosted by South Wales Fire Service which will have firefighters from all over the UK along with legal experts and police representatives.

A fire service spokeswoman said the Ely incident on Tuesday could have had fatal consequences.

"Youths were barricading the road, chucking stones," she said.

"Officers called police, the police came and dispersed the youths and they could carry on.

"Luckily nobody was hurt in the fire but, if they'd been trapped in the house, they could have been."

Jo Staples, a community fire safety advisor with South Wales Fire Service, said there had been 50 to 60 incidents in the past few weeks alone.

"It's becoming a way of life for [firefighters]," she told News Online.
You either like it or lump it - unfortunately, they have to lump it."

She said some areas were turning into hotspots for trouble.

"It's getting to the stage where fire crews won't enter [some areas] unless they have got police assistance.

"The severity of the attacks have become so frequent that I think a lot of firefighters have become unshockable."

South Wales Fire Service is already making plans to install CCTV on fire tenders to help combat violence against crews and catch those responsible.

In some cases, fire chiefs have said fires are being lit deliberately to lure crews to an area where they are then set upon by gangs.






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[orphan2]

Fire crews ambushed after bins set on fire

Shropshire Star link

A Shropshire fire engine was damaged when a crew was ambushed on a Telford housing estate as they went to tackle a blaze involving a number of wheelie bins.

One window of the machine from Telford Central was broken in the attack at Woodside last night.

None of the fire crew was injured in the incident which happened in Wantage around 7.30pm as the fire appliance arrived.

At least 10 wheelie bins had been set alight by arsonists in what is believed to have been an attempt to set a deliberate trap for the fire crew.

Mr Timmis said the Shropshire fire service was working closely with the police, Telford & Wrekin Council and housing agencies to overcome the problem.

The call to Wantage was the third on Woodside and the sixth incident across the Telford area throughout yesterday.

[orphan2]

bottles hurled at firemen tackling bonfire night blaze

North West Evening Mail link

BARROW firemen were subjected to a hail of bottles last night as they battled to control an arson attack in a town centre back street.

As four firefighters battled to bring the blaze in the back street between School Street and James Street under control and stop it engulfing a nearby house, hidden yobs launched the volley.

A spokesman for Barrow Fire Brigade said: “The back street has steel gates, supposedly sealing it to non-residents, but someone got in there and set fire to benches and such like that residents had put out.

“When our crew got in there and started putting out the fire, bottles were thrown over the house at them.

“Fortunately the bottles hit the fire tender and not the crew.”

[brumble49]

Bricks hurled at firefighters

FIREFIGHTERS' lives were put in danger when mindless youths hurled bricks as the crew attempted to put out a fire in Ashington.
Sub officer John Buller said one brick damaged the windscreen of the fire engine but could have had more serious consequences.
The firefighters came under attack as they attempted to put out a rubbish fire in Fontburn Crescent, believed to have been started deliberately by youths.
Mr Buller said "We received the call at around 5.30pm on Monday to put out a fire.
"When we got there youths started throwing bricks at the fire engine to try to hamper us from putting out the fire.
"This is not the first time this has happened in this area and at this time of year it seems to get worse."
He warned that the incident could have led to a firefighter getting hurt and added that these deliberate fires waste not only valuable time but also resources.


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[brumble49]

Fire engine cameras set to catch attackers

CAMERAS are to be fitted to fire engines in a bid to protect emergency crews from attack as violence against firefighters soars.

The equipment will be fitted to appliances called out to known trouble hotspots in a bid to put yobs off hurling missiles or attacking staff.

The move comes after new figures revealed attacks on emergency crews in Lothian and Borders have rocketed in the past year.

Fire chiefs have described the trend as very worrying and believe catching thugs red-handed and using video evidence to prosecute them will act as a deterrent.

Warning signs will be emblazoned across fire engines to alert members of the public that recording equipment is being used on the vehicle.

The new figures show the number of incidents of physical and verbal abuse against crews in Lothian and Borders has increased by as much as 260 per cent in some cases.

Even more worrying for crews is the fact that attacks where a weapon has been used have trebled in the last year.

Incidents where firefighters are pelted with missiles during call-outs have gone up almost 30 per cent, rising from 38 in 2002-3 to 49 this year.

Verbal abuse against firefighters has almost quadrupled, with the number of reported incidents rising from five to 18. Politicians last week announced plans to beef up laws to protect emergency workers from attack.

A Bill going through the Scottish Parliament makes it a specific offence to assault, obstruct or hinder police, fire or ambulance crews and sets a maximum penalty of nine months imprisonment or a £5000 fine.

But at the moment the Bill would only apply when staff were dealing with an emergency.

Finance and public services minister Tom McCabe said it would be extended to protect emergency workers whenever they were on duty.

Gavin Barrie, Lothian and Borders branch secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, welcomed any efforts to protect firefighters from attack.

"We recognise the brigade is taking steps and is also considering fitting CCTV cameras on appliances. Its a shame public money is having to be used in this way, because there are other things it would be best spent on, but there is little choice if attacks on crews continue."

Councillor Fred Mackintosh, a member of the fire board, said firefighters had a hard enough job without people throwing rocks at them.

He added: "If people know there are CCTV cameras on a fire engine it might deter them from throwing things in the first place. It is important that we do anything we can do to protect our firefighters."

Tom Munro, Lothian and Borders Fire Brigade divisional officer, said the brigade was looking seriously at the impact cameras would have on reducing attacks.

He said fire officers already withdrew from fires in open ground which dont pose a risk to others if there is the threat of attack. If the fire needs to be tackled the police will be called out for protection.

He added: "Cameras can give crews an increased feeling of security, act as a deterrent or record evidence of any attacks."

Earlier this month, firefighters had to call for police protection after yobs launched fireworks at them while they were trying to deal with an emergency call.

The crew came under attack on Guy Fawkes Night as they attended a bonfire in Whitburn, West Lothian.

Just days before, another firefighter was shot with an airgun and other crew members were stoned after they were ambushed by teenage yobs in Musselburgh.

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[brumble49]

Fire Engine Attacked In City Centre

A Fire Brigade Union spokesman last night branded as "lunatics" the people who carried out an attack on an appliance in Belfast city centre.

The attack took place shortly after 8pm when a large stone was thrown from a passing car as the engine was leaving a false alarm call in Shaftesbury Square.

The stone shattered the front passenger window of the engine, narrowly missing the officer in charge of the appliance.

As a result of the attack, Jim Barbour said the engine would be off the road for most of the night.

"The officer was actually winding the window up when these lunatics threw a large stone at it," he said.

"That is one less appliance available for vital work and it could be somebody's house."

The number of attacks on Fire Service staff had recently passed 500 this year.



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