FIREFIGHTERS have slammed yobs who bombarded their engine with rocks and blazing debris in an ambush attack last night.

The crew from Burnley were called after a fire was started at the bottom of Old Hall Street, in the Daneshouse area.

But on arrival at 7.50pm they were ambushed by a gang of up to 20 youths, who were on the bridge over the Leeds-Liverpool Canal.

Crew manager Kieron Ogden said they were forced to retreat when the yobs lobbed bricks and rocks at the engine.

The firefighters called police and provided them with a description of a youngster who launched a lit item from the fire.

Officers used the Lancashire Police helicopter, specifically its searchlight, to track the teenager at around 9pm.

Crew manager Ogden blasted the youths, dubbing their behaviour ‘totally unacceptable’.

He said: “When we arrived there was quite a large fire with between 15 and 20 youths around it.

“We could see one lad lighting something in the fire and he thew it at the engine.

"Then around half a dozen large rocks were thrown at the engine just as we were about to get out.

"We had to quickly shut the doors and reverse back to request the police.

“The police were already at a job in Hapton, so they came over and we gave them a description of the lad we saw light something and throw it.

“We would ask these people to consider the fact that we are here to do our job and to serve the public not to respond to this sort of thing.

“I’m sure they would happily accept us into their home if they required assistance putting a fire out, but somehow they think it is justified to pelt us with rocks and other things on fire. It is totally unacceptable.

In summer, between July 19 and August 27, figures revealed there were a total of 174 arson attacks in East Lancashire.

Of the total, 22 were at buildings in use while 142 targeted unused or derelict premises, wheelie bins, rubbish and patches of land.

Earlier this month firefighters said unauthorised bonfires were draining resources after yobs broke into Elm Street Mill, also in Daneshouse, and stole wooden pallets before torching them on the canal bank twice in three hours.

Following the incident, Mr Ogden said the problems were already serious, with Bonfire Night two wekes away.

He said: “We are not here to put bonfires out. If a bonfire is registered we won’t put it out, but we will if it isn’t supposed to be there.”

Inspector Jon Fryer, of Burnley Police, said the helicopter was called to the incident after 8pm.

A 15-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of criminal damaged and has since been released on police bail.

Anybody with information about the incident should call Burnley Police on 01282 425001 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

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