Union calls for halt to bonfire night attacks on firefighters

Firefighters must be able to go about their work unmolested by young thugs who attack crews with fireworks over the bonfire period, the service's union has said.

Traditionally, the November 5 Guy Fawkes night sees a big rise in attacks on firefighters, with youngsters luring fire crews with emergency callouts before attacking them.

The rise in attacks in the run up to November 5 was highlighted at the early stages of a research project looking at the rising number of attacks on firefighters. These early findings showed a marked increase around November 5 and the following weekend.

FBU national officer John McGhee said: “It’s a time of year when far more attacks take place. Youngsters think we’re killjoys when we turn up to put out unofficial bonfires.

“They attack us because they think we are spoiling their fun. We get bricks, stones and bottles thrown at us. Fireworks, like rockets, have been used to attack us."

Mr McGhee also said that during this period firecrews tend to be faced with more dangerous incidents than at other any time of the year. He went to call on revellers to be sensible around bonfires.

“Youngsters throw gas canisters onto bonfires without realising that can be deadly. This has to stop before it gets completely out of control and a youngster or a firefighter is killed," he said.

The FBU has said that it would be talking to the government and fire authorities in order to make sure their safety message becomes part of firework safety campaigns in the future.

(gmcg/sp)