Cleveland Fire Brigade is appealing to the public for support after repeated violent attacks to our firefighters and damage to new fire engines in the Hardwick area of Stockton.
Over the bonfire weekend crews attended the area on four different occasions where they experienced groups of children and youths deliberately setting fires and attacking vehicles and firefighters.
The latest attack was Monday (07 November) where one of our newest fire engines was targeted by youths and damaged by bricks and rocks whilst attending a bonfire in Hardwick, Stockton. The fire engine has considerable damage to the window and its side panels resulting in it now being off the road whilst it gets repaired.
On bonfire night we were called to a large bonfire with hundreds in attendance. Two bricks were thrown at the fire engine causing damage. On Sunday (06 November) crews attended two further incidents in Hardwick where verbal abuse and threats to start more fires were made. Objects were also thrown at firefighters with one being hit in the back with small chunks of plasterboard. Surprisingly, none of our staff were injured during these mindless incidents.
The consequences of this senseless behaviour not only costs us thousands to repair, but it also now means we have one less fire engine available and ready to attend real-life emergencies, which could put you and your family at risk.
Carl Boasman, Assistant Chief Fire Officer and Director of Community Protection said: “It is completely unacceptable for our staff to be subject to violence and acts of vandalism whilst protecting the public.”
“Our job is being made more difficult by the thoughtless actions of a minority intent on setting fires and then trying to injure staff and damage engines. In this instance it means a vehicle is off the road and unavailable to respond to other incidents. These attacks also divert crews from real emergencies where lives may be at risk.
“Such violence also puts firefighters at risk of serious injury. Cleveland Fire Brigade will not tolerate such attacks. Our vehicles are fitted with CCTV cameras and staff are equipped with body cams and we will use any evidence we have to support the police to secure a prosecution of anyone who has been violent towards our staff and vandalised property.”
We would like to appeal directly to our local communities to help us identify those responsible for such dangerous and anti-social behaviour.
If you know who is behind these attacks, please get in touch via FireStoppers which is 100% anonymous. Alternatively, you can call them on 0800 169 5558.
