00:00Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service is calling on parents and carers to speak to children urgently about their behaviour after a shocking firework attack on firefighters in Wirral led to three firefighters being injured and a fire engine being damaged.
00:14On Monday 6th October, firefighters attending a large blaze at Greenacres Park in Beechwood were subject to firework assaults.
00:21Three members of the crew suffered temporary hearing loss and their fire engine was damaged.
00:26The following night, crews tackling a small fire in Walton Hall Park were pelted with a log as they left the scene their vehicle sustaining damage.
00:34It's shocking isn't it when you hear firefighters getting attacked when they're only there to try and ultimately save lives.
00:43When firefighters are attacked doing their job, it's not acceptable.
00:49It's disgusting, they do a difficult job and if the public can't support them, then something's wrong with society.
00:57I'd say with ambulances as well, the ambulance is the same thing, don't I?
01:00I think part of it is, unfortunately for them, absolutely no fault of theirs, a bit of a societal thing now because they're seen as an authority figure.
01:09And wrongly, I would say rightly or wrongly, completely wrongly, it's almost like they represent, not the government, but they represent authority.
01:18They're telling you what to do.
01:20Maryside Fire and Rescue Service has condemned the attacks, describing them as wholly unacceptable and is now urging parents to talk to young people about the consequences of targeting emergency workers.
01:31They also say that all fire appliances are fitted with CCTV and that footage will be passed to Maryside Police with a view to prosecution under the Assault on Emergency Workers legislation.
01:43With bonfire nights approaching, the service says it's bracing for further incidents and is working closely with the police to safeguard crews.
01:50Modern fireworks are a bit different to what I grew up with because it was like a little street.
01:55We actually had fireworks in the backyard, we'd like pin a Catherine wheel up, sparklers, and it seems to be quite innocent fun then.
02:05I'm a massive firework fan, absolutely massive.
02:10I hope the local councils can put lots of safe displays on, obviously it's difficult for animal lovers, but I'm a massive firework fan.
02:19I was out yesterday morning, I was seeing the change in the weather, and I was thinking, man's going to be a bonfire night.
02:24This was yesterday morning. Yeah, I enjoy it.
02:28I think the type of numbers seem a lot louder than what they were, and also there's a lot more awareness now about animals.
02:36Hedgehogs and bonfires don't go very well together.
02:40Over three key dates in 2024, Maryside Fire and Rescue Service staff faced being targeted by projectiles
02:46as they set about keeping communities safe across the region during the busiest period for the organisation.
02:51New data released by the service said there were 10 incidents of violence towards firefighters last year, up on 2023.
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