By Pam McClounie

Last updated at 14:39, Friday, 26 October 2012

Youths threw beer cans and a stone at firemen when they went to tackle a bonfire in a park.

A fire crew from Carlisle West were called to Keenan Park in Harraby just after 6.30pm yesterday but when they arrived they had missiles thrown at them.

A spokesman for Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service said: “We were called to reports of an unorganised bonfire and when we got there a group of about eight youths threw beer cans and a stone at us. We requested help from the police.”

The police sent a patrol at 7pm.

Police and fire crews are reminding people to attend organised fire displays.

They have launched Operation Roman Candle to clampdown on nuisance behaviour in the run-up to Bonfire Night. Last year fire crews were called to just under 30 nuisance fires in Carlisle around Halloween and Bonfire Night compared to more than 85 in 2007.

Craig Drinkald, station manager at Carlisle West Fire Station said: “Every year we see a rise in the number of deliberate fires that are started during a two-week period which includes half-term, Halloween and Bonfire Night.

“We want to make sure that our appliances are available for real emergencies, not wasting valuable time on nuisance calls, which is why we take clamping down on anti-social behaviour so seriously.

“Young people setting deliberate nuisance fires might think they’re having a bit of harmless fun but they’re putting their own and other peoples’ lives at risk.”

Call police on 101.

First published at 14:27, Friday, 26 October 2012
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk