FIREFIGHTERS have come under attack from yobs who threw fireworks at them after calling for help.

Crews were sent to the same place in Blackburn twice in two days after receiving reports of rubbish fires. But when they arrived they came under fire from a gang launching missiles.

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Campaigners said they were outraged to hear that East Lancashire’s emergency workers had been ambushed when they were trying to help others.

Steve Harman, Lancashire brigade secretary for the Fire Brigades Union, said: “We absolutely condemn these actions.

“The bottom line is firefighters’ jobs are already dangerous and they take precautions where they can, but on occasion, it does get extremely dangerous.”

Firefighters were called to St Stephen’s Primary School, in Robinson Street, Blackburn, around 9pm on Thursday. They had received a smiliar emergency call out to the same street but this time to Little Harwood Children’s Centre on Friday.

Crews across the county have also been attacked three times over the last few weeks by gangs throwing objects including bricks.

Charlene Winchester, crew manager at the town’s fire station, said: “We were attacked by youths throwing fireworks.

“They were just chucking them towards us. It was like they were waiting for us to arrive. There was every chance they could have injured themselves as well.

“There were between seven and 10 kids. It’s always a problem coming up to bonfire night but it seems even earlier this year. It has happened two nights in a row now in the same area.”

Station manager Julian Williams added: “We deplore and vigorously prosecute through the courts attacks on firefighters, often perpetrated by youths at fires they have deliberately started.

“That said, we recognise that the vast majority of young people are positive, law-abiding and decent citizens who also denounce the anti-social behaviour of the few and indeed who are only too often the victims of street violence themselves.

“We use a number of approaches to tackle the problem, ranging from the use of the law to prosecute offenders and provide a deterrent, to community liaison work to convey strong messages on the unacceptability of such behaviour and the fact that it endangers people as well as firefighters when their response to emergencies is compromised.”

Miles Parkinson, a Hyndburn councillor and deputy chairman of the Lancashire Fire Authority, said he was disgusted to hear about the ‘ambush’.

He said: “This is outrageous that some people find it a joke to throw things at firefighters who are trying to save people’s lives.

“I find it simply appalling. As a former firefighter I find it perturbing that people would act in this way against public service staff who regularly risk their lives.

“As deputy chairman of the fire authority, I am very concerned about the safety of our staff.

“I would appeal to anyone who knows anything about this or other such incidents to contact the police.”

Jack Straw, MP for Blackburn, said: “This ambush is absolutely disgraceful behaviour. Often in these situations, one wonders where the parents are.”

Mr Harman, from the FBU, added: “The issue of youngsters attacking firefighters is an ongoing problem which has been happening for generations.

“We constantly put a lot of effort into working with communities to try to get them onboard and to get children to understand what the fire service does.

“This kind of thing should not happen, but we do still get isolated cases, particularly at this time of year.

“It is an annual problem and we try our best to liaise with communities and where necesssary, get the police involved to try to prevent this illegal action.”

Last year the North West Ambulance Service received more than 18,500 calls leading up to and including Bonfire Night, up from around 15,800 in 2012.

Derek Cartwright, director of operations at NWAS, said: “Around the Bonfire Night period, our ambulance crews will treat a number of patients, children and adults, ranging from those with minor burns to those with more serious, life-threatening injuries.

“It is easy to forget how dangerous fireworks, bonfires and even sparklers can be. Sparklers get five times hotter than cooking oil and a rocket can reach speeds of 150mph, causing serious harm to anything in its path.”

Anyone with information about who is responsible for attacks should call police on 101.