Firefighters in County Durham targeted with fireworks on Bonfire Night
North East and Teesside fire services have been sharing the events of last night
Firefighters in County Durham targeted with fireworks on Bonfire Night
North East and Teesside fire services have been sharing the events of last night
County Durham and Darlington fire service say 2 incidents, where people aimed fireworks at firefighters last night - is unacceptable.
The incidents were reported by crews out dealing with Bonfire night calls, but no one was injured.
The service say crews will continue to wear body-worn cameras, and footage will be passed on to Durham Constabulary.
Meanwhile, Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service say the received 438 emergency 999 calls last night alone, though that is a drop of 9% compared to last year, when they received 481 calls on the 5th of November.
Between 1st and 5th November, TWFRS handled a total of 819 emergency calls, down 4% from the same period last year (851 calls).
They tell us that in the lead-up to Bonfire Night, the service delivered 73 fire safety sessions across 26 schools, helping 11,412 young people receive essential fire safety advice from prevention and education officers.
Paul Russell, Area Manager for Community Safety, stated: “We want to thank our staff, crews, community groups, and partners in the region, along with the residents we serve, for their support during our busiest time of year.
“As always, our Control Room team, operational crews, and duty officers responded efficiently to the surge of calls and requests, handling incidents swiftly and effectively.
“Our fire service collaborates with communities in Tyne and Wear throughout the year to educate individuals of all ages about the dangers of deliberate fire-setting and its potential impacts on themselves and others. These messages are especially important as we approach Bonfire Night.
“We also extend our gratitude to our partners for their support during this period, including our colleagues in blue light services, local authorities, housing associations, schools, and hospitals in the region.”
And on Teesside, Cleveland fire crews from White and Red Watch responded to 165 incidents across the force area, around a 12% increase on last year, attending numerous bonfires, including 18 that had become out of control, along with a number of rubbish fires, two property fires, and one flat fire.
The Cleveland Fire Brigade say;
"Despite recent incidents of violence and aggression towards our staff, we’re pleased to report that no such incidents occurred on Bonfire Night itself, something we are incredibly grateful for.
"Our staff go to work to protect lives and communities, not to be threatened or attacked for doing their job. Everyone deserves to carry out their role safely and with respect."
If you have any information about those setting deliberate fires, you can report it anonymously to FireStoppers.