Fire appliance damaged as crew comes under attack from stone throwing thugs

‘We are there to help the public’

Youths who pelted firefighters with stones after they were called out caused so much damage a fire appliance was temporarily withdrawn from frontline duty.

The incident took place on Friday evening, May 22, in the Colin Glen Forest Park area of West Belfast.

NIFRS said they received the call-out at 7.32pm this evening and personnel responded to assist.

A statement from the Northern Ireland Fire Service said: “Fire crews were called out to rubbish on fire at Colin Glen Forest Park where they came under attack from youths throwing rocks. A fire appliance from Cadogan fire station was damaged during the incident and unable to respond to other calls for assistance until it was repaired.”

READ MORE: Parents and pupils urged to be vigilant after student social media hackedREAD MORE: £300,000 in cocaine transported across border using Dublin-based crime gang

A spokesman from the NIFRS said: “There was damage to the appliance which resulted in the front windscreen being broken. This meant that the appliance was unable to respond to further incidents until it was repaired.

“We want to highlight that firefighters are there to assist the public and we wish to appeal to the community to please provide assistance to crews as that we are there to help them.”

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.