Fire chiefs slam attacks on crews

A top fire officer has said attacks against fire fighters will not be tolerated this bonfire season, after crews were targeted with missiles and fireworks last year.

The mount of attacks to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service came on the busiest night of the year as they responded to 970 incidents on November 5, 2016 including 326 unofficial bonfires.

There have been 590 incidents in the past 6 years where fire fighters have been physically or verbally abused

In one case, a team of firefighters in Ayrshire were subject to two targeted assaults within the space of several hours. Police then had to escort the crew in order for them to do their job and extinguish the fire.

Recent statistics show a firefighter is attacked in Scotland every three days. There have been 590 incidents in the past 6 years where fire fighters have been physically or verbally abused or had objects thrown at appliances.

Despite the danger of attacks this year, Assistant Chief Officer Lewis Ramsay said: "Our firefighters' main purpose is to save lives. You can rest assured that they will always be there and standing on the front line to help at times of emergency.

"And these firefighters are your father, mother, brother or sister – someone’s family. It is beggars belief when I hear that they have either been physically assaulted or verbally abused when trying to assist their communities.

“This type of behaviour not only prevents our crews from bringing any emergency to a safe and swift conclusion but it can impact on our emergency service colleagues including the police when they have to escort us at the scene."

ACO Ramsay warned that such criminal action would be taken extremely seriously and vowed to work with police partners to ensure those responsible are identified and held to account.

• Bonfire night
• Scottish Fire and Rescue
• fireworks