Firefighters in Scotland attacked five times as they respond to over 350 bonfires on Fireworks Night

Firefighters were attacked five times as they responded to more than 350 incidents on Bonfire Night.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service received 1,025 calls during an eight-hour period on Saturday, with crews mobilised to 356 bonfires across the country.

Usually one of the busiest nights of the year, there was an increase of five calls to SFRS on the same period last year, with firefighters responding to 18 more bonfires in 2021.

However attacks on firefighters have dropped in 2022, in comparison with eight reported incidents on crews with three injuries sustained in 2021.

Of the five reported attacks this year, there were no injuries sustained by fire crews.

Assistant chief officer David Farries said: “It’s been another busy and challenging evening for our crews and operations control staff around Scotland and I thank them for their dedication.

“We are disappointed to report five attacks on our firefighters. In the run up to Bonfire Night, we had spoken out about this kind of unacceptable behaviour by a small minority which sadly happens year after year. Our staff should be able to carry out their role without being attacked and it is disappointing that people have tried to hurt firefighters and have damaged our appliances and equipment.

“Crews only attend bonfire related incidents when people contact us about concerns over public safety and we extinguish fires that are unsafe.

“We put a huge amount of planning and preparation into this evening with local partners and other emergency services as we work together to protect communities, which is always our top priority.”