A FIREFIGHTER who was attacked by youths armed with baseball bats and iron bars has described the "level of hatred" for 999 crews from some people.
Noel McKee (48), who has been in the fire service for more than 25 years, issued a plea to "stop the violence" which he said has become part of the job and is on the rise.
The Whitehead man and a female colleague were attacked earlier this month in the New Lodge area of north Belfast as they attended what they thought was a routine call-out to a burning car.
"Everything seemed normal when out of the shadows two guys in their early twenties approached us telling us to stop doing what we were doing," he said.
"We carried on and as soon as our backs were turned a lump of masonry and bricks were hurled. I was hit on the leg and back with baseball bats. I was wearing protective clothing and didn't suffer any serious injuries - but my colleague had to be taken to A&E and will be on leave for a few weeks.
"These type of attacks on fire crews have been going on for years but before we would have been hit by stones from a distance. This was the most personal attack I have experienced.
"Our job is not to retaliate but to withdraw if we don't deem anyone's life to be at risk."
Mr McKee, who is based at Whitla fire station in the north of the city, finished his shift that night and returned to work the next day.
Counselling and peer support is offered to officers who have been victims of assault but the veteran firefighter said his way of coping was to return to his job.
"It’s not the physical stuff but the mental scars that affect you in this job. You see so many things over the years in terms of deaths and tragedies that stay with you, we do not need this violence. It has to stop.
"It is only a tiny minority of the community who do this but recently the attacks appear to be increasing again. There is a level of hatred that has has always been there. I would just ask these people to let us do our jobs. We risk our lives to save lives."
Mr McKee is urging the public to attend an open day at their headquarters in Belfast this Saturday, at which firefighters will demonstrate their rescue skills though mock-up operations – including tackling a high-rise building fire.
The event will take place at Central Fire Station off the Ormeau Road between noon and 4pm.