Knife threat among 43 attacks on Bradford firefighters in one year

Over a 12 month period Bradford crews were pelted with bottles, threatened with a knife and had fireworks aimed at them.

In total there were 43 attacks on firefighters in Bradford between April 2018 and March 2019. These make up 57 per cent of attacks on firefighters across all of West Yorkshire.

The figures have been released by West Yorkshire Fire Authority - which holds its annual general meeting next week, where members will be given details of some of the abuse its staff have to put up with.

But despite a string of violent incidents, attacks on firefighters were actually down compared to the previous year - when 92 attacks were recorded in West Yorkshire.

One incident on March 29 saw firefighters threatened with a knife when they attended a car fire on Wrigley Avenue in Bierley.

'It won't have been an impressive sight' - man exposed himself to firefighters in Keighley

On February 19 a group of youths threw glass bottles at a crew as then responded to reports of a fire on Greyswood Crescent in Holme Wood.

And on February 12 a group of 10 hooded youths surrounded a crew attending an incident on Sycamore Close, Undercliffe and lobbed stones at them.

Youths also threw stones at a crew attending an incident in Garthland Way, Cutler Heights, on March 17.

In one incident staff at a local company threatened crews that were responding to reports of a fire on site.

On February 29 a crew were called to a fire in Little Horton. It turned out to be staff at a business carrying out a controlled burning. When the crew tried to get into the site to up out the fire, the employees "became abusive towards crews and would not let them into the site."

The manager of the business eventually had to intervene, and apologised to the crew.

On Bonfire night alone in Bradford district fire fighters were attacked on six occasions - five of which involved fireworks being thrown at crews.

And at an incident in Keighley in October a man exposed himself at firefighters.

A report going to the fire authority says: "The Chief Fire Officer re-emphasises that even one attack is one too many and that every assistance and encouragement will be given to the police to bring offenders to court. Work is continuing with a variety of agencies from the police and district councils to community groups and youth leaders to address these issues."

Other efforts to reduce attacks include making the public more aware of "Silent Witness" cameras installed on fire engines to catch yobs in the act.

In the past 12 months there were four incidents involving Calderdale crews, nine involving Kirklees crews, 18 involving Leeds crews and one involving Wakefield firefighters.

Attacks on Bradford fire crews between April 2018 and March 2019

On 6th April at 1715 hours whilst attending an incident on Warrenton Place, Lidget Green, involving a boy stuck on a roof, a group of boys threw stones at the crews.

On 13th April at 1950 hours whilst attending a bin fire in the park at Horton Park, Horton Park Lane crews came under attack from youths throwing missiles and threatening to set more fires. The police were called but the youths continued to throw articles at the crews and the police.

On 20th April at 1025 hours crews were attending a smell of burning at a home on William Street, Denholme when the occupier became aggressive towards the crew.

On 26th April at 2220 hours when called to a dwelling on William Street, Denholme the occupier refused to let crews in and was verbally abusive towards them.

On 3rd May at 2015 hours youths threw stones at crews whilst they attended and incident in WibseyPark on Reevy Avenue. Bradford.

On 13th May at 1845 hours whilst attending an incident at Yorkshire Martyrs Catholic College a projectile was thrown at the appliance damaging the window on the driver’s side.

On 18th May at 2215 hours crews received verbal threats whilst attending an incident in the field of Cedar Drive, Wyke.

On 24th May at 1810 hours whilst attending an incident on Mount Street, Bradford crews were threatened by a motorist because the crews had closed the road in order to deal with the incident.

On 5th June at 0010 hours crews were verbally abused and had objects thrown at them whilst attending an incident at Lindley Park, Roundhill Street, Bradford.

On 23rd July at 2150 hours whilst attending a fire on playing fields to the rear of Reevy Crescent, Bradford approximately 8 boys between the ages of 12 and 15 got very aggressive and threatened to relight the fire if crews extinguished it.

On 12th August at 2210 hours whilst dealing with a wheelie bin fire on Strensall Green, Bradford stones were thrown at the crew.

On 29th August at 2130 hours crews suffered verbal abuse whilst dealing with a fire in the open at Ash Fold, Bradford.

On 17th September at 1520 hours crews were subjected to aggressive behaviour and offensive language whilst attending an incident at Spring Gardens Lane, Keighley.

On 25th September at 2100 hours whilst attending an incident at Spencer Road Playing Fields, Bradford missiles were thrown at the crews by a group of youths, narrowly missing a firefighter.

On 29th September at 2030 hours whilst attending a fire in the open on Dracup Avenue, Scholemoor, missiles were thrown at the crew by a group of youths, narrowly missing two firefighters.

On 30th September there were four attacks on firefighters:

At 1700 hours a group of youths threw stones at the crew as they attended a fire on Scholemoor Avenue, Bradford.

At 1837 hours whilst attending a fire in the open at Lonsdale Street, Bradford a group of youths threw fireworks onto the fire, verbally abused the crews and shone laser pens into their eyes.

At 2005 hours whilst attending a fire in the open on Back Kirkham Road, youths threw fireworks at the appliance.

At 2115 hours whilst attending a fire on Scholemoor, Ash Fold, Bradford youths threw fireworks which struck the appliance.

On 1st October at 1905 hours whilst attending a fire in the open on West Park Road in Bradford, crews were attacked by a group of youths who threw fireworks and bricks which damaged the appliance.

On 3rd October at 1910 hours whilst dealing with a fire in the open in Devonshire Park, Keighley crews were subjected to verbal abuse from a number of youths.

On 9th October at 1945 hours on Parkside Road, Bradford whilst attending a fire in the open crews were subjected to racial verbal abuse, stone throwing and threatening behaviour from approximately 12 youths.

On 24th October at 1530 hours whilst at an incident in Devonshire Park, Keighley crews received verbal abuse from a group of males, one of which exposed himself to the crews whilst young children and families were also in the park.

On 27th October at 2140 hours missiles were thrown at crews whilst attending a fire at Lupton Street, Bradford.

On 29th October at 1717 hours fireworks were thrown at crews and the appliance whilst attending a fire in the open on Woodhead Road, Bradford.

On 1st November at 2100 hours fireworks were thrown at crews whilst they attended a fire on Hopbine Avenue, Bradford.

On 2nd November at 2315 hours whilst attending a large bonfire on Burneston Gardens, Bradford fireworks were thrown at crews.

On 5th November at 1735 hours crews were threatened and verbally abused whilst attending a fire at Vernon Court, Keighley.

On 5th November there were 5 attacks involving fireworks thrown at crews as follows:-

1800 hours whilst attending a fire on Great Horton Road, Bradford.

1830 hours whilst attending a fire on Cartmel Road, Keighley.

1940 hours whilst assessing a fire on Drewry Road, Keighley.

2015 hours whilst attending an incident on Alexandra Street, Great Horton.

2030 hours whilst attending an incident on Leeds Road, Bradford – eggs were also thrown at crews at this incident.

On 6th November at 1830 hours crews were stoned whilst attending a fire on Green Lane, Lidget Green, Bradford.

On 6th November at 1855 hours whilst attending a small fire in the open on Lonsdale Street, Bradford missiles were thrown at the crews.

On 6th November at 1910 hours objects were thrown at crews and the appliance whilst the attended an incident at Hendford Drive, Bradford.

On 14th December at 1530 hours the occupier of a house on Lower Lane, Bradford became abusive and threatening towards crews whilst they attended an incident as his premises.

On 16th December at 1210 hours a man became extremely aggressive and physically assaulted a firefighter whilst they attended an incident at Parkfield Gardens, Bingley.

On 12th February at 2002 hours whilst attending an incident at Sycamore Close, Bradford crews had stones thrown at them by approximately 10 youths in dark clothes and hoodies.

On 14th February at 1730 hours whilst attending a fire in the open on Fagley Lane, Bradford youths in the area became verbally abusive towards crews.

On 19th February at 2100 hours whilst attending a fire in the open on Greyswood Crescent, Holmewood glass bottles were thrown at the crews and appliance.

On 27th February at 1900 hours whilst attending a fire, staff carrying out the controlled burning became abusive towards crews and would not let them into the site. The manager arrived and apologised and allowed the crew to extinguish the fire.

On 17th March at 1815 hours whilst extinguishing a fire in the open on Garthland Way, Bradford a group of youths were verbally abusive towards crews and throwing objects at them as they left.

On 29th March at 0005 hours whilst attending a car fire on Wrigley Avenue, Bierley a member of the public threatened the crews with a knife.