Child injured as rockets aimed at fire crews on Bonfire Night

A child was injured after a rocket was aimed at firefighters as they attempted to deal with a blaze during the Bonfire period in Merseyside last year.

Over three key dates in 2024, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (MFRS) staff faced being targeted by projectiles as they set about keeping communities safe across the region during the busiest period for the organisation. New data released by the service said there were 10 incidents of violence towards firefighters last year, up on 2023.

Over a five year period, an average of seven instances of violence against fire crews have been reported while in the line of duty. During that period, St Helens has proved to be the safest area in Merseyside, with no attacks registered.

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The fire service records key dates during the period as October 30-31 and November 5 - Bonfire Night itself. The number of targeted attacks rose from four in 2023 to 10 last year.

These included a brick and stones being thrown at crews at Walton Hall Park while a rocket was fired at a fire appliance and its team on Egerton Street in New Brighton. Missiles were thrown and verbal abuse was directed when firefighters were in attendance at Window Lane in Garston.

On Bonfire Night last year, a child was injured after a firework was fired into a crowd of people, including firefighters, on Price Street in Birkenhead. A report detailing the incidents, which will go before Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority’s community safety and protection committee on Thursday said: “It should be noted that though violence at work incidents are an unwanted aspect of the fire fighter role/arson officer role, it is imperative that all occurrences are reported as this intelligence allows partner organisations to target areas of risk as well as feeds into risk assessing areas where crews and arson officer teams could be working in future.”

During the Bonfire period, officers noted there had been an “exponential” rise in fires being set but Merseyside Police - which leads on the wider Operation Banger project overseeing the multi-agency response - reported a 13% downturn in anti-social behaviour. Since 2020, there have been 35 instances of violence against fire crews - predominately across Liverpool.

A total of 21 of the 35 calls were recorded across the city, compared to none in St Helens and just three in Sefton. Only five issues were reported in Knowsley with six on the Wirral between 2020 and 2024.