A group of vandals have broken the windscreen of a Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service fire engine after crews were called to an incident at Braunstone Park on Tuesday evening.
Crews from Western Fire Station were responding to the incident where a motorbike was on fire, the second related incident of the night, when vandals threw a bottle at the fire appliance, causing a bullseye in the windscreen.
Thankfully, no one was injured but the fire engine has been taken off the road as it was deemed unsafe to drive and it is currently being assessed by a duty mechanic.
Matthew Cane, Area Manager Operational Response, said: “This is a horrifying crime which caused an emergency fire appliance to be taken off the road, an appliance that could have otherwise been out responding to incidents and helping our community. This incident also put our crew in danger.”
The original caller stated they saw five or six people running off and a description of the vandals has been given to the police.
Anyone who has any information about the incident should contact Leicestershire Police on 101 or visit https://www.leics.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/ stating reference number 671.
ENDS
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About the Service
Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service provides emergency response, prevention and protection services from 20 stations across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. Its headquarters is based in Birstall, Leicester.
During 2018/19, the Service attended 762 road traffic collisions, of which 125 were extrications from vehicles, in addition to 2,569 fires. We carried out 6,746 home safety checks and fitted 4,790 smoke alarms. 279 schools were visited as part of the Service’s schools programme, delivering fire and road safety education to pupils. Staff organised or took part in 1,068 community safety events, promoting fire and road safety and arson prevention, and 134 Virtual Fatal Four (VF4) events as part of the Service’s young drivers’ road safety project.
The Service’s prevention, education, enforcement and inspection programmes have resulted in significant reductions in the number of incidents. In the last ten years, fire-related incidents have reduced by over 30 percent.
Contact:
Corporate Communications
Direct: 0116 210 5768
