Emergency Services Urge Caution Following Bonfire Night Incidents

Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service has seen a notable increase in incidents following this year’s Bonfire Night celebrations.

The Service responded to more than double the number of incidents this year, compared to 2023.

Fire Service call outs were to fires caused by improper handling of fireworks, and fireworks igniting trees and bushes.

A handful of incidents were also involving students and young people, and a police investigation is now underway after a disorder that occurred last night and into in the early hours of this morning on Midland Way, Radford.

Police officers were called around 10:20pm yesterday (Tuesday 5 November) after initial reports of a disorder involving a large group of people.

Arnold and Stockhill Fire Station then attended a fire at 00:23 this morning (Wednesday 6 November), where two bins were alight outside a student accommodation block.

Firefighters from Highfields, London Road, Stockhill, Mansfield, West Bridgford and Edwinstowe Fire Station were then called out to an incident at the same block of flats shortly after 1am this morning. On this occasion a fire had started in a kitchen which had been caused by a firework being fired through the window of the property.

Whilst emergency service personnel were in attendance, fireworks were continued to be thrown at fire engines, and police officers, as well as others on the street. Thankfully, no injuries were reported.

Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service Group Manager, Tom Staples, said: “Although fireworks are exciting, they can also be extremely dangerous. 

“Luckily the firework and bonfire related incidents we have attended over the past few days have been quickly resolved due to the work of our brilliant emergency services however they can easily get out of hand, especially when they are landing near fences, and in bushes.

“The safety of the public, especially in areas where large numbers of students live, is one of our top priorities. We cannot stress enough the importance of being responsible when it comes to using fireworks.

“We also do not tolerate abuse towards our staff, or our emergency vehicles. Such reckless behaviour puts others at risk and also delays our response to other incidents around the county. These actions are being taken extremely seriously by our colleagues at Nottinghamshire Police.”

Chief Inspector Mike Ebbins, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “I want to reassure the community that a thorough investigation is underway, and we are pursuing several lines of inquiry that will ensure that those responsible are tracked down, caught and dealt with.

“We won't tolerate such appalling behaviour which puts people at risk of harm, including our officers and fellow blue light colleagues who were in attendance trying to keep people safe, and we'll seek to prosecute anyone involved.

“There will be increased patrols in the affected areas tonight, providing reassurance for the public, as we continue with our investigation.

“While our inquiries remain ongoing, we’re urging anyone with mobile phone, social media footage or dashcam footage that could assist our investigation to please contact Nottinghamshire Police on 101, quoting incident number 452 of 5 November, or alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”