Bravery Under Fire: Scottish Firefighters Face Hostile Attacks on Bonfire Night
Emergency Response Challenged: The SFRS Condemns Attacks and Maintains Community Protection Amidst Firework Frenzy
As the skies of Scotland were illuminated with the vibrant displays of Bonfire Night, a darker narrative unfolded on the ground. Firefighters, the very symbols of safety and aid, found themselves under siege, not from the flames they are trained to combat but from a barrage of fireworks and bricks hurled by individuals amidst the festivities. This Bonfire Night, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) personnel were met with aggression rather than applause, enduring nine separate attacks across Scotland while responding to emergency calls.
These alarming incidents occurred in a span of just eight hours, marking territories in Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Blantyre in South Lanarkshire, and Blackburn in West Lothian as hotspots for hostility. The attacks, though resulting in no physical injuries to crew members, inflicted a damaging toll on emergency equipment; notably, a fire engine in West Lothian was left with a shattered windscreen due to a hurled brick, rendering it inoperable.
The night’s attacks were not isolated events. They followed a disturbing trend that saw four prior attacks on fire service crews in Ayrshire and Edinburgh the preceding week, with an additional two incidents in Troon and Glasgow over the weekend, cumulating to a total of 15 attacks within a week. These numbers cast a shadow over the celebrated tradition, highlighting a dangerous disregard for safety and order.
Assistant Chief Officer Andy Watt of the SFRS expressed unequivocal condemnation of these attacks, stating, “Attacks on our firefighters are completely unacceptable.” He emphasized the gravity of the situation, noting the hindrance such acts pose to emergency responses and the potential risk they create for other emergency service teams, including the police, who often assist at the scene.
Despite these adversities, the SFRS managed a considerable workload, responding to around 355 bonfire incidents out of more than 892 calls between the hours of 3:30 pm and midnight. Prior to Bonfire Night, the SFRS had embarked on a public awareness campaign, urging citizens to recognize the perils associated with fireworks and unregulated bonfires and to consider their community impact.
Bonfire Night, traditionally one of the busiest evenings for the SFRS, requires significant preparation and collaboration with local partners and emergency services. ACO Watt took the opportunity to acknowledge the unwavering commitment and professionalism of the SFRS personnel, who despite the hostility faced, displayed extraordinary dedication to their duty of protecting communities.
As the SFRS and Police Scotland work in concert to identify and respond to those responsible for these acts, the call for community solidarity becomes more pronounced. While the actions of a few threaten to undermine the safety and well-being of many, the SFRS’s message remains clear: the service will continue to stand as guardians against danger, committed to the safety and protection of Scotland’s communities, steadfast even when confronted with aggression on the very night they work the hardest to keep those communities safe.