SCOTTISH fire bosses have issued a warning ahead of bonfire night, revealing firefighters experienced physical attacks the same time last year.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) is reminding the public of the consequences of deliberate fires and ‘misuse of fireworks’ during the months of October and November.
Firefighters attended more than 1350 deliberate fires during the four-week period leading to Bonfire Night 2020 with some even experiencing physical attacks upon attendance.
Fire bosses have said this placed unnecessary pressure on the Service and potentially impacted crews’ ability to respond to genuine emergencies, and the same could happen this year.
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SFRS’s Head of Prevention and Protection, Alasdair Perry is leading the campaign, called ‘Bang Out of Order’, and is reminding everyone of the ‘very real dangers’ of reckless behaviour during the firework season.
The Deputy Assistant Chief Officer said: "A deliberate fire can put property, resources and indeed lives at risk. We are working positively with young people and our partners to raise awareness of the very real dangers and consequences of such actions.
“We have a zero-tolerance approach to deliberate fire setting and anti-social behaviour involving the misuse of fireworks and other projectiles. To say these incidents are ‘bang out of order’ is an understatement.”
The Bang Out Of Order awareness campaign is working with a range of partners including Police Scotland and schools to ensure young people understand the risks of taking part in anti-social behaviour.
As well as issuing safety advice and explaining what measures people can take to protect themselves, it was also revealed that firefighters experienced physical attacks this time last year whilst responding to deliberate fires.
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Perry added: “Last year on Bonfire Night our crews experienced twelve attacks. On any night of the year an attack on crews responding to incidents is unacceptable, but to have twelve on our busiest night of the year puts everyone in danger.
“If an appliance is damaged it may not be available for other emergencies. Our emergency service partners are diverted from other emergencies to escort us to deal with incidents if crews need treatment and to investigate the attacks.
“It’s time to bring an end to this type of anti-social behaviour and make sure firefighters – and our emergency service partners - can do their job and keep the communities they serve safe.”
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