Fire crews attacks - when will it end?

MOST firefighters will tell you that they joined the profession to help save lives.

So the notion that a fire crew could come under attack for doing just that has sparked widespread revulsion.

Attacks on crews have historically come from many different sections of the community.

Burnley watch manager Neil Ashworth said: "At the moment we have had incidents in Stoneyholme and Daneshouse but in the past it has been an issue in Burnley Wood and other predominantly white areas."

And he said that the recent spate of attacks had come out of the blue.

He said: "When all of the headlines came out this week about the attacks I think there was a lot of shock in the community.

"But unfortunately in our job this is something that we have to get used to.

"Our aim is to protect the community but incidents like we have seen recently make it more difficult."

Following an attack on a fire crew in Blackburn which left a fireman in hospital earlier this week, Lancashire Council of Mosques chairman Salim Mulla vowed to find the culprits and haul them to the police station.

In a bid to improve relations with the community fire crews in Burnley met youngsters at Daneshouse Community Centre, the scene of violence last week when stones were thrown at officers as they tried to put out a bonfire.

Blue Watch arranged with local community beat manager PC Susan Sanderson to speak with members of the youth group at the community centre about what happened last week.

More than 20 youngsters turned up at the meeting and apologised for what happened.

Mr Ashworth said that he was pleased to organise the visit to try to stop any further incidents and was happy to explain the job his crew do and "engage" with the youngsters.

Since the attacks last week fire crews have asked for a police escort when going into the Daneshouse and Stoneyholme areas of Burnley.

Youth group leader Mohammed Sijjeel Quadri said: "I would like to apologise for what happened last week.

"I have total respect for what the fire service does.

"This is a safe area and this issue has changed the perception of what it is like in Daneshouse.

"We know who the instigator of the trouble last week was and he has been chastised."

Bayzid Ahmed, 16, said: "I was around here and I saw what happened and I want to tell the firemen that it won't happen again.

"We know that it should not have happened and it was good to talk to the firemen and let them know that we aren't happy about what happened."

He said that last Friday, after the youth centre had shut at 10pm, some of the youngsters had started a fire to keep warm.

He said the arrival of the fire service to put it out had sparked tension.

Shamim Miah, 18, added: "We know that if there was a house fire we don't want the firemen to hesitate about coming here."

As well as meeting the Blue Watch crew, members of the youth centre were able to have a look around the a fire engine and talk to the firefighters.

Some were even asking about a career in the fire service.

Community Fire Service worker Nav Shariff said: "We want these kind of incidents to stop and that is what visits like this are for.

"We are working hard to engage with the community and it is not just in Daneshouse but problem areas all over East Lancashire."

Charlie Cottam has been a firefighter for six years.

Speaking about the attacks he said: "I don't really understand why they do it, I don't know what they get out of it.

"I've encountered trouble a few times.

"I've had bottles thrown and fireworks set off at me and I'll never get used to it.

"The first time I saw it I was gobsmacked.

"We are trying to help people so to be faced with violence and abuse is hard to accept."

Colleague Fiona Thompson said: "I don't think it's anything particularly about firefighters.

"I think it's just that we appear to be some sort of authority figures and driving around in a fire engine can look like a target.

"I am definitely more wary at the moment.

"I am more suspicious and more cautious.

"If we got a call to a house fire then I don't think any concerns like that would enter my head but if it's a rubbish fire then there is always a thought about what will happen when we arrive and if there will be any trouble.

"We are lucky that someone hasn't been badly injured."

After visiting the community centre Blue Watch was called out to a barn fire in a remote part of Read in the Ribble Valley.

Did Mr Ashworth have any trepidation heading out on a job like this?

He said: "There is no problem with the morale of my team and I hope there are no worries in their minds.

"Events like the attacks of the last few days are bound to make people think but when there's a call we know there's a job to do."

The blaze, off Whalley Road, Read, destroyed a barn.

The crews had to ferry water from a hydrant in Whalley Road to the scene to fight the fire.

As the flames died down Mr Shariff said: "It makes me angry that there is ever any violence towards the fire service.

"Hopefully we will now see an end to it."