[Kie99]

Firefighters have been getting attacked and had stuff thrown at them when they are putting out fires.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4454285.stm

Firefighters' plea to stop abuse  
 
Firefighters say it is only a matter of time before someone dies
Firefighters have called for a national strategy to deal with the rising number of attacks on fire crews.
The Fire Brigades Union said there were 40 attacks each week and long-term solutions were needed for what was a national problem.

Rocks and bottles had been thrown at crews and scaffolding poles put through fire engine windscreens.

FBU general secretary Andy Gilchrist said it was only "a question of time" before a firefighter was killed.

The union's research had shown crews were being subjected to abuse while fighting fires, had their equipment stolen or tampered with, or were urinated on.

Crews 'ambushed'

On other occasions, false emergency calls were made in a deliberate attempt to lure fire crews into ambushes.

  It can never be part of anyone's job to get a brick or bottle in the head or to be spat at


However, the union is concerned that under-reporting means the number of attacks could be as much as three times higher than the figure of around 2,000 cases a year.

'Getting worse'

Mr Gilchrist said: "The number and ferocity of the attacks appears to be getting worse.

"These attacks are inexcusable and must not be tolerated. It can never be part of anyone's job to get a brick or bottle in the head or to be spat at," he said.

Mr Gilchrist said firefighters wanted police to "apprehend and deal" with the attackers but that this would not solve the long-term problems.

"There is no quick-fix solution but we need to start with a properly resourced, national strategy rather than it being left to cash-strapped local fire services," he said.

Some of the most serious incidents included:


Salford, Greater Manchester, 25 March 2005: Crews pelted with bricks as they tackled a fire. Two firefighters taken to hospital.

Rochdale, Greater Manchester, 1 April 2005: Fire crews pelted with rocks and forced to withdraw.

Walsall, West Midlands, Jan 17, 2005: Youths as young as 12 attack firefighters tackling a house fire. Police attending the scene are also hit with bottles, bricks and stones.

BBC labour affairs correspondent Stephen Cape said the problem was very complex and the FBU did not want a "knee-jerk" reaction.

"It is the under-reporting that they want actually tackled, if there was a proper measure, if all the cases were noted down, then it would be much easier to tackle it," he said.

Our correspondent said attacks were happening in areas with poor youth facilities and poor housing where "bored young people" were using drugs and alcohol. Attacks were in rural as well as inner-city areas.

I think the solution to this problem is to give the fireme- I mean firefighters, weapons, I would give them a live weapon, but you could give them rubber bullet guns if you didn't want to do that.

[Fineus]

That's.. disgusting.

That said, the solution seems simple. The firemen have an incredibly powerful hose system. Turn it on the ****ers that abuse them. Don't stop untill they leave.

[Clave]

So wrong!  It's hard enough putting your life on the line without that crap.  Like you said turn the hoses on them, or better still get the SPG to beat some sense into the little ****ers...

[Rictor]

But who would go to such trouble to attack firefighters, and why? I can understand if it was cops, then at least there's a comprehensible reason, but the firefighters only job is to put out fire's, thus saving lives.  Full stop.

I'm with Thunder on this one. I would love to see the sight of a firetruck zoom past with two firefighters riding shotgun on the water cannons.

[Hippo]

/me is firefighter in training


Wow, that's really disturbing...




Actually Thunder, those hoses can kill very easily, plus they wouldn't be putting out pure water, there's usualy chunks of rust, and pebbles in the water...

[Fineus]

Heh.. exactly.

How many idiots would have to have broken legs or even worse injuries from being hit with a water cannon before the rest of them work out that they shouldn't **** with people whos career involves risking their own lives to save other peoples.

But being things are the way they are, they'll probably just prosecute for assault, get a record and a months community service and end up straight back on the streets. Hell, maybe we can offer them councilling sessions.

[Fury]

What on earth is wrong with people? Seriously, this is insane.

[Kie99]

Originally posted by Hippo
/me is firefighter in training

*makes mental note never to annoy Hippo*

Actually Thunder, those hoses can kill very easily, plus they wouldn't be putting out pure water, there's usualy chunks of rust, and pebbles in the water... [/B]

You say that like its a bad thing.

[Hippo]

Well, yes... Because then firefighters have to seperate themselves from the fire to deal with triage and medical duties (at least in the places where firefighters and medical personel are one in the same)...

The police should in theory be at every fire to not only be crowd control, but trafic management, and the occasional flight to a store to buy a large amount of water bottles...

That, and people should know better... As kara said somewhere, "don't throw **** at an armed man, and don't stand next to a person who throws **** at an armed man" or something similar...

[aldo_14]

Originally posted by Rictor
But who would go to such trouble to attack firefighters, and why? I can understand if it was cops, then at least there's a comprehensible reason, but the firefighters only job is to put out fire's, thus saving lives.  Full stop.
 

Scum.  It's that simple; they're scum.

  It happens up here, too; wee neds make fake 999 calls or light fires, and then shower the firemen with bricks or even shoot at them with airguns.  I think the same happens to ambulance crews, too....it's a ****ing disgrace, pure and simple.

[Kie99]

Originally posted by Hippo
Well, yes... Because then firefighters have to seperate themselves from the fire to deal with triage and medical duties (at least in the places where firefighters and medical personel are one in the same)...

The police should in theory be at every fire to not only be crowd control, but trafic management, and the occasional flight to a store to buy a large amount of water bottles...

That, and people should know better... As kara said somewhere, "don't throw **** at an armed man, and don't stand next to a person who throws **** at an armed man" or something similar...

If they injure the Scum then they can call a doctor, and then if there is a doctor who is not doing anything he can come and help them.  Don't forget that the scum are potentially causing deaths, so I don't think any other lives should be put at risk for them.

[IceFire]

Why in the hell do you attack a group like Firefighters?  That makes no rational sense in any way at all.  It doesn't even make irrational sense ( ?).  A house is on fire, it could spread...these guys put it out...but meanwhile someone thinks its a great idea to throw bricks and stones at them....what?

[aldo_14]

Originally posted by IceFire
Why in the hell do you attack a group like Firefighters?  That makes no rational sense in any way at all.  It doesn't even make irrational sense ( ?).  A house is on fire, it could spread...these guys put it out...but meanwhile someone thinks its a great idea to throw bricks and stones at them....what?

You're not dealing with rational people here, though.