It was a night of chaos across Greater Manchester. As thousands enjoyed firework displays across the region for Bonfire night, emergency services dealt with hundreds of dangerous incidents, which saw cars set alight and fireworks set through letter boxes, hurled at passing cars and thrown towards fire crews putting out a bonfire.
Police announced that they were called to numerous concerning reports, with the fire service attending a staggering 229 incidents across the region. They included four youngsters setting off the fireworks in Salford before they were searched. They were found to be in possession of alcohol and drug paraphernalia, which was confiscated. Another man was also detained in Salford for carrying pyrotechnics on Saturday night.
In nearby Cheetham Hill, youngsters fired rockets at passing motorists near to Crumpsall Lane, and in Eccles, a firework was thrown at firefighters came under attack as they were extinguishing a bonfire, with a firework hurled at them.
READ MORE Fire crews attend over 200 incidents across Greater Manchester on busy Bonfire Night
The fire service also reported how firefighters were scrambled to a property in Salford after a lit firework had reportedly been shoved through a letter box, causing a fire in the hallway which had to be put out.
Fire crews were also called to wheelie bins, trees and playground equipment being set alight, as they also responded to an allotment set ablaze by a rogue firework in Reddish, a pile of rubbish and leaves set on fire in Failsworth and a garden shed fire in Bolton.
A post on GMP's North Manchester Facebook page published a picture of the seized fireworks that had been launched into the street and towards passing cars, and said: "The following fireworks were located in Cheetham Hill near to Crumpsall Lane from youths who were launching them into the street aiming them at cars."
As Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service tweeted: "Sadly our crews were met with anti-social behaviour when attending an incident in Eccles. A firework was thrown at crews who were trying to extinguish a bonfire. No one should be attacked when trying to keep communities safe. It's #BangOutOfOrder and shouldn't be tolerated."
The Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) announced on Sunday that they attended a staggering 229 incidents across Greater Manchester on Bonfire night, with the North West Fire Control taking 308 calls between 4pm yesterday (Saturday 5 November) and 8am today.
Nobody was hurt in any of the incidents, but GMFRS reminded the public that the behaviour seen across the region on Bonfire night was 'totally unacceptable' and 'would not be tolerated'.
GMFRS Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Leon Parkes, said: “Unfortunately, there were a handful of isolated incidents where crews were met with abuse and had fireworks thrown at them. Firefighters should not have to deal with anti-social behaviour while trying to keep people safe.
“Thankfully no-one was hurt but I’d like to remind the public that this behaviour is totally unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Setting light to fires, throwing fireworks and making hoax calls can cost lives and keep our firefighters away from dealing with life-threatening incidents."
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