Edwinstowe firefighters called to Radford bonfire night disorder, as service respond to more than double the number of incidents compared to 2023

Firefighters responded to more than double the number of bonfire night incidents this year, compared to 2023.

Many of Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service’s call outs were to fires caused by improper handling of fireworks, and fireworks igniting trees and bushes, prompting the service to urge caution.

A handful of incidents also involved students and young people, and a police investigation is now underway after a disorder that occurred overnight on November 5 and into in the early hours of the morning on November 6, at Midland Way, Radford.

Police were first called to reports of a disorder involving a large group of people at around 10.20pm.

Edwinstowe Fire Station was among the emergency services to attend the incident, after a firework was launched through a window of a student accomodation block causing a fire.

They were called out at around 1am, alongside firefighters from Highfields, London Road, Stockhill, Mansfield, and West Bridgford stations.

Another incident had occured earlier on at the same block of flats, attended by Arnold and Stockhill fire stations at around 12.23am, when two bins where alight.

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, added: “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.

“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 November 5, or alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”