FIREFIGHTERS are having to be escorted by police to fires in certain areas of Bradford because of the risk of being targeted by youths hurling fireworks and other missiles.

Crews are waiting for police support in some high-risk areas before tackling blazes if there is no danger to lives or property from the fire.

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service says the policy is part of a partnership between the service and West Yorkshire Police.

On Monday, a Shipley fire crew covered for the Fairweather Green appliance at a fire in the open in a Girlington park.

When they arrived they had a firework thrown at their vehicle and then a brick which smashed a light.

The police then turned up and the fire was dealt with.

Fairweather Green crews have been rendezvousing with police when they go to areas where they have been attacked before.

On Thursday night they attended a fire in the open where a group had already dispersed and the local residents the crew talked to condemned the attacks.

Deputy Chief Fire Officer Dave Walton said: “West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service works closely with West Yorkshire Police when responding to incidents of all types.

“As part of this partnership fire crews can request a police presence if they are attending an incident where there is concern that fire crews may come under attack or face anti-social behaviour.

“This is an agreement that we have in place all-year-round.

“This would only be instigated for incidents which fit a certain profile, such as nuisance fires in the open, and where there may be historical experience of similar occurrences.

“If there was any risk to life, such as for example if there was a house fire, firefighters would make an immediate attendance regardless of any risk to themselves.

“These local arrangements are developed dynamically, and are usually rescinded within a very short period of time when the problem has been resolved.

“Ultimately we do not wish to tie up police resources attending nuisance fires with our crews, but the safety of our firefighters is paramount, and they do not have the same powers to deal with criminality.

“We urge communities to support the fire service and police by joining us in spreading the zero tolerance message about attacks on firefighters which are completely unacceptable and not only put our own staff and the community at risk, but also are a drain on the public purse.”

In June the T&A reported that attacks on firefighters in West Yorkshire were up last year – with more attacks in Bradford than any other area.

Figures by West Yorkshire Fire Authority showed that there were 92 attacks on firefighters in the 2017/18 financial year, up from 82 the year before and 60 in 2015/16.

Of the attacks last year, 42 were in the Bradford area, and these attacks included one incident when firefighters were pelted with golf balls while attending an incident in the Canterbury Estate.

Attacks in Bradford included 13 incidents where fireworks were thrown at firefighters, four stoning incidents, 13 where other “missiles” were thrown and one incident where a weapon was “brandished”.

Other incidents were made up of officers being verbally abused and “aggressive behaviour”.

Bradford and Odsal Fire Stations suffered the most attacks in the past year – 13 incidents each.