WYFRS sends stark warning in the wake of attacks

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) are warning that it will not tolerate any attacks on its firefighters who are simply trying to protect people from harm.
Bradford district firefighters have already come under attack while tackling two rubbish fires in the past three nights.
Fortunately no one was harmed but the attacks have prompted this warning.
Deputy Chief Fire Officer Dave Walton, Director of Service Delivery, said: “Firefighters put their own lives at risk every single day to protect the public. To be attacked by the very people they are there to help is simply incomprehensible.
“Every year we are forced to make the difficult decision whether to bring these despicable attacks to the attention of the public. Of course we hope that by highlighting the problem, communities will pull together and put an end to it, but there is also a risk it will encourage more aggression.
“We want you to consider this – how would you feel if your brother, sister, mother, father, best friend, were trapped in a fire or serious road traffic collision (RTC) and it took firefighters longer to reach them because the nearest crew had been forced to come off duty because they had been attacked. Firefighters are there to protect everyone; please don’t attack them when they are there to help.”
All WYFRS fire engines have cameras installed and crews are trained to ensure the best footage is captured when at incidents to increase the likelihood of culprits being identified.
DCFO Walton added: “These attacks are completely unacceptable and we can assure you that we have a zero tolerance policy. We will do everything in our power to make sure that anyone who attacks our firefighters will be caught and prosecuted.”
A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police has said: “Attacks on emergency services personnel are taken seriously and West Yorkshire Police will work closely with partners to investigate these incidents and take firm action against those involved.”