UK FF needs your help: Attacks On Firefighters

[SabUKFF]

I am a UK firefighter and I have just secured funding to conduct an international study on attacks on firefighters during the course of their duty. It is funding that I had to fight hard to get. This is a rapidly increasing problem for our brothers and sisters in the UK. I, myself, have endured being stoned, spat at, and had LPG cylinders left in car fire's as a bomb for my crew and I. Recentley in Scotland a firefighter was shot in the head with an air gun en route to a fire, and in Ireland a firefighter was stabbed at a car fire. So as you see, the fire is not our only enemy anymore.

I have already travelled to Israel for the first leg of my research. Later in the year I will be spending 2 weeks in South Afica, then 6 weeks in North America. Provisionally I am hoping to travel to Chicago, San Fransisco and New York. Can anyone highlight any areas where attacks are prevailant or has anyone experienced attacks on duty? Any information or contacts that you can offer would be greatly appreciated as this project is still in its infancy.

Kind Regards and Many Thanks
Sab

[RFD1067]

Would love to help out,but out here on the west coast,usually even the bad guys are happy to see us.Attacks on firefighters happen,but it's not all that common,it's usually during civil unrest or some kind of boobie trap at a drug lab.You might want to focus your research efforts here in the states around the larger depts. like FDNY,LA CITY FD,LA COUNTY FD,CHICAGO FD. Best of luck with your research.

[SafetyPro]

As RFD said, I can't recall hearing of any attacks recently here in California. There have been a few on the East Coast recently, but just doesn't seem to happen out here. Last one's I can recall were during the LA Riots in '93, and that was part of a much larger situation.

You should be able to find info on the recent attacks here on Firehouse.