Fireman Hurt On Route To Derry 999 Call

A fireman has been seriously injured after the engine he was driving came under attack in Londonderry - but avoided crashing the speeding appliance.

He was taken to hospital with glass in his eyes after the fire crew was responding to reports of a fire at a school on the Aileach Road. They came under attack and were pelted with bricks and bottles.

Deputy Chief Fire Officer Chris Kerr has condemned those behind the attack.

Mr Kerr commented: "I think that when one reflects on the incidents of the last few weeks, the Fire and Rescue Service attended over 2,000 incidents of gorse fires without serious injury to any of our fire fighters.

"As those levels of activity are reducing, we find one of our fire officers injured in such a needless and unjustified attack."

He also said: "The attack will not deflect us from providing a service to the wider community – whose support we enjoy.

"The potential for our injured colleague to have lost control of the fire appliance he was driving could have had tragic consequences for both the crew and other road users.

"It is sad that after attending over 2,000 incidents during the recent wildfire period without serious injury to our staff - we should have a firefighter injured in such an attack.

"I would appeal to those with influence in the wider community to assist us to prevent such attacks and to demonstrate their continued support for their Fire and Rescue Service."

The attack resulted in the fire appliance being taken out of service 'off the run' - which has temporarily reduced the level of emergency cover in the Londonderry area.

NIFRS has initiated emergency arrangements to deploy a replacement appliance at Northland Fire Station.

Local police in Londonderry are appealing for witnesses following the attack, with a statement saying that it happened around 8.20pm last night as the fire crew was attending reports of a fire at a school in the area and came under a sustained attack with bricks and bottles.

"The driver of the fire tender was taken to Altnagelvin hospital with cuts and glass in both eyes," the PSNI statement said, noting that anyone who witnessed the attack or who has any information is asked to contact police in Derry on 0845 600 8000.

(JG/BMcC)