Northumberland Fire and Rescue responds to 49 incidents on Bonfire Night

The busiest period occurred between 4pm and 10pm, when crews attended 49 incidents across Northumberland as communities gathered to celebrate Bonfire Night.

Crews responded to a range of emergencies including bonfire-related incidents, bin fires, road traffic collisions, small fires and false alarm activations.

Firefighters extinguished 19 bonfire-related fires, compared to 10 on Bonfire Night last year. Crews also attended 30 false alarm good intent incidents, the majority relating to bonfires that were being safely managed by responsible adults.

As part of wider resilience arrangements, Fire Control staff also assisted neighbouring fire and rescue services experiencing exceptional demand during the evening.

While most celebrations took place safely, three incidents involving violence towards Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service personnel were reported, involving fireworks directed at firefighters and vehicles.

Dan Wootton, Area Manager at Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service, said: "Bonfire Night is always one of the busiest evenings of the year for our crews and Fire Control staff, and this year was no exception.

"While it is encouraging that many bonfires were being managed responsibly, firefighters still had to respond to a significant number of incidents requiring intervention, alongside a range of other emergencies across the county.

"It is particularly disappointing that a small minority subjected our crews to unacceptable behaviour. Our firefighters are there to help keep people safe and should be able to do their jobs without facing abuse or violence.

"I'd like to thank our firefighters, Fire Control staff and partner agencies for their hard work and professionalism throughout the evening. I'd also like to thank the vast majority of residents who followed safety advice and celebrated responsibly."