Firefighters in Glasgow targeted

People who chose to attend organised bonfire night events helped to protect their communities by ensuring firefighters were able to quickly get to real emergencies on November 5.

Initial figures indicate a quieter than usual shift for Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) crews on duty during Guy Fawkes night. By 11pm firefighters throughout the country had responded to more than 600 incidents, including over 300 bonfires.

Deputy Chief Officer Alex Clark said: “Our crews were needed at incidents across Scotland and many of the 999 calls related to bonfires that were unsupervised or endangered homes and other buildings.

“While bonfire-related activity means this is typically the service’s busiest night of the year, it’s important to remember that firefighters must also be ready to respond to the full range of emergencies where they may be required.

“Our frontline crews and Operations Control personnel are incredibly dedicated and their professionalism and skill were crucial to protecting communities throughout the country.

“Everyone who chose to attend an organised event this year played their part in helping to keep themselves, their families and their communities safe.”

SFRS had appealed to the public to choose to attend organised events rather than do-it-yourself fireworks displays or illegal bonfires. The evening saw firefighters attend house fires and road traffic collisions, demonstrating the importance of crews being free to respond to real emergencies.

In Glasgow a fire at a semi-detached home in Colintraive Avenue in the north of the city saw a 999 call made at 9:20pm and appliances immediately mobilised from Easterhouse and Springburn.

Both crews reached the incident around seven minutes later and as teams in breathing apparatus worked inside the property a third appliance was sent from Cowcaddens to assist the first responders.

Wearing breathing apparatus and equipped with several high pressure jets, the firefighters extinguished the flames and searched the roof-space to confirm there was no hidden fire spread.

The SFRS crews requested an ambulance attend as three men appeared to be suffering from the effects of smoke inhalation. Paramedics then provided them with precautionary check-ups at the scene.

These emergencies were among 306 incidents, including 177 bonfires, to occur in the West Service Delivery Area before 11pm.

SFRS crews in the North Service Delivery Area responded to 28 bonfires.

Crews in Glasgow’s Govanhill district were were subjected to a verbal attack and threatened with violence as they responded to an unsafe bonfire.

Deputy Chief Officer Clark added: “Attacks on emergency responders are completely unacceptable and I am sure the public would be outraged by incidents where their firefighters have been targeted while working to protect people and property.

“Those responsible should know that the authorities take their mindless criminal actions extremely seriously and we work closely with police to ensure they are identified and held to account.

“We will continue our efforts to bring about a reduction in these mindless actions from a small number of individuals. As an organisation we have a duty of care towards our employees and are committed to protecting our frontline staff who work in challenging circumstances to make communities safer.”