Bonfire Night Madness: 999 Calls Are Doubled, Crews Receive Fireworks, And Hospital Staff Car Is Damaged

Bonfire Night in Teesside was chaos for the emergency services workers in Teesside.

Calls to 999 to the Cleveland Fire Brigade were uninterrupted throughout the night and reports increased nearly 50% this year, despite the region being closed the same day.

Emergency services workers attended dozens of incidents throughout the area, and there were alarming reports that police and firefighters received fireworks or were attacked while doing their jobs.

Firefighters on the notoriously difficult shift suffered a whopping 51 incidents, up from 38 last year.

There were also 44 deliberate fires, up from 30 on the same day in 2019.

What did the firefighters say?

Steve Johnson, Senior Director of Prevention, Protection and Engagement, said: “We are disappointed by the sheer number of incidents and the totally irresponsible behavior of a mindless minority putting additional pressure on key workers during this current pandemic.

“With the organized exhibitions canceled, we expected a greater number of bonfires in the garden.

“Unfortunately, in some cases there was a total disregard for social distancing and in others the measures implemented during the shutdown.”

He commended the firefighters and other emergency service workers in Teesside.

“I would like to pay tribute to our teams, along with other first responders, who once again worked very hard under difficult circumstances to protect our local communities,” he said.

“Our engines are equipped with CCTV and our firefighters have body cameras and when there is evidence of violent attacks, we will work with the police to initiate prosecutions.

“I would like to thank the majority who acted responsibly.”

The police also attacked

Cleveland police also targeted those who attacked their officers on Bonfire Night.

A spokeswoman said: “No officer should go to work to be attacked and the force will not tolerate this behavior towards our officers under any circumstances.”

Teesside Rep. Matt Vickers has called for harsher sentences for those who attack emergency services workers.

He led a debate at Westminster Hall on the issue this week and described how there were 662 attacks on officers in the 12 months leading up to October this year.

That’s almost two a day and a figure that is 50% higher than the previous 12 months.

He said: “I have seen first hand the courage of the North Tees Hospital staff and the Cleveland Police, the sacrifices they make day after day, I just want to do the right thing for them, I want them to feel protected and safe as they continue to prevent us from do harm. ”

Despite the negative news, many families still held their own private celebrations, observing the lockdown rules.

Injuries from accidents and emergencies

But there were still some casualties.

A spokeswoman for the South Tees NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough, said they saw 16 bonfire-related injuries overnight at emergency department and urgent treatment centers.