LISTEN: Fire crews attacked while responding to increase in calls on Halloween

By Brett Campbell

Firefighers have come under attack while responding to over 60 emergency incidents on Halloween night. 

A total of 83 calls were received between 6pm yesterday and 1am this morning.

That equates to a 22% increase compared to last year, despite strict Covid-19 public health measures being in place across the region.

Assistant Chief Fire and Rescue Officer Paddy Gallagher says 18 of these incidents were bonfire related.

"Crews attended 2 separate incidents where they encountered hostile members of the public throwing missiles, including fireworks," he said. 

"There were no injuries to crews, however at one of these incidents crews withdrew for safety reasons."

Health Minister Robin Swann strongly condemned the overnight attacks on fire crews.

Mr Swann said: “It quite frankly beggars belief that anyone would consider this acceptable behaviour.

“Thankfully, no injuries have been reported but it could have turned out very differently.”

He said crews had a “challenging enough job without having to contend with idiotic missile throwing”.

“If we learn anything from 2020, it should be that we all have to treasure our frontline workers and let them know how much we as a society value them,” he added.