New figures show Northern Ireland firefighters missed over 100 days due to violent attacks, raising concerns about their safety on the job.
The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service shared this info after a Freedom of Information request. It turns out that 103 days were lost due to assaults. Can you believe that?
There were ten incidents where firefighters were hurt by the public. It’s shocking to think that while they’re trying to help, they’re facing violence. In 2019, three firefighters had to go to A&E after being attacked.
Things got worse in 2021 when the number of assaults jumped. Nine out of ten attacks happened in Belfast, affecting crews from several fire stations.
The data shows that some attacks were really serious. One firefighter missed 53 days after an assault in August 2019. Another missed 31 days just three months earlier.
The most recent incident was in January 2024, where a firefighter was out for 17 days. It’s clear that these attacks have a big impact on their ability to respond to emergencies.
Fire Brigades Union general secretary Matt Wrack spoke out about this issue. He emphasized that firefighters should be able to do their jobs without fear of being attacked.
NIFRS Area Commander David Harbinson also condemned the violence. He said it’s unacceptable for firefighters to be harmed while serving the community.
Both leaders agree that more needs to be done to protect these brave individuals. They’re calling for better resources and community support to keep firefighters safe.
