Thugs stone firefighters

FIREFIGHTERS came under attack from a group of youths last night as crews across the Lothians dealt with more than 450 calls – a rise on last year.

The crew was responding to reports of a malicious fire set on open ground at Laurel Bank Place in Mayfield, Dalkeith, at around 10:20pm.

On arrival they were abused by a group of youths who lobbed stones at them and shouted insults.

Following guidelines issued by Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service to provide as much protection as possible for its crews, the firefighters withdrew and called the police.

No firefighters were injured but the attack caused damage to the windscreen of one fire engine. Another vehicle's bodywork was damaged.

While firefighters were kept busy on another hectic night, control staff reported that, despite fears of more attacks, this had been the only crew targeted.

Crews dealt with around 100 more calls this year than last, having responded to around 350 on 5 November 2008.

Group Manager Tom McGrath said: "The attack on a fire crew is totally unacceptable and it is just fortunate that no one has been hurt.

"People need to understand that we are trying to provide a public service."


'People don't seem to realise how dangerous their actions are, and the cost to the fire service in dealing with them'

EVENING News reporter Gareth Edwards joined crews from Sighthill as the city's firefighters tackled their most challenging night of the year.

IN EDINBURGH, Sighthill is generally one of the busiest fire stations, and the full-time crew of 11 have been joined by three retained crews from the Borders to help cover the massive influx of calls.

By 7pm, with celebrations well under way, the calls are flooding in.

After a few minutes at the station, we hear the droning alarm ringing out.

One of the retained crews is ready in seconds, and we follow them out to Redhall Drive where there have been reports of an unsupervised bonfire.

On the way, the radio continually crackles with new calls coming in.

Another Sighthill team is dealing with rubbish alight, there is an unsupervised bonfire at Polkemmet Primary, and even a malicious false alarm at Broxburn Academy wasting time and manpower.

On an average night, the local fire and rescue crews would expect up to 100 calls. On Bonfire Night, it can be more than 800.

When we arrive at Redhall Drive, a large pile of rubbish, including a shopping trolley, has been set alight.

A group of people are there, and there is some suggestion fireworks may have been thrown on to the blaze.

The firefighters use water buckets to put out the fire, causing the flames to flare up.

As the crew heads back to the station they get another call, to a fire at Harvesters Way in Wester Hailes.

There, they find a group of very young children next to a large bonfire which has been set behind a wall on a public footpath. Firefighters are all too aware of the possibility of being attacked, and the crew admits this is exactly the sort of situation which could become very ugly, very quickly.

After speaking to the children, they agree not to put the bonfire out as long as the eldest stay to supervise it.

By 8.45pm, calls are almost non-stop.

Jim Connell, watch manager with a retained crew from Lauder who are helping to cover the calls in the city, says: "We will spend a lot of tonight just going around and putting out bonfires."

A call then comes in to a fire in Saughton Mains Park. By now, the makeshift bonfires are abandoned, but the crew discover that someone has thrown a gas cannister on to the fire, creating a highly dangerous situation.

After dousing the flames, they put a hose on to the cannister to cool it down, before bringing out thermal imaging equipment to check it is safe to move.

Group manager Tom McGrath says: "It is this kind of incident that is really concerning, as a lot of people don't seem to realise how dangerous these actions are, and the cost to the fire service in dealing with them."