UPDATE: STONE ATTACK ON FIRE CREWS - a THIRD fire at same site
BREAKING NEWS: A third arson attack in the space of 32 hours has hit farmland near to the Justin Park travellers' site in Harborough.
The situation is becoming increasingly worrying after firefighters reported being pelted with rocks and stones when putting out a fire at the site on Tuesday night.
As reported in today's (Thursday) Mail, a group of youths hurled missiles at Harborough crews after a fire was started at about 7.30pm on Tuesday night (see full story below).
According to Leicestershire Fire and Rescue's daily report, the third fire was started at about 8.30pm last night (Wednesday) where four bales of straw were set alight on farmland near to Justin Park.
Firefighters used a hose reel jet to put out the flames. There is no suggestion at this stage that fire crews came under attack in this incident but it is the third fire at the same site in less than 48 hours.
Today's Mail front page (below)
FIREFIGHTERS were pelted with stones as they tackled a blaze near a travellers' site.
A group of youths hurled missiles at Harborough fire crews during the incident on a farm next to Justin Park, off Northampton Road, on Tuesday evening.
They had been called to deal with a fire on two farm buildings when they came under attack.
One of the firefighters is said to have suffered an injury during the incident.
As well as threatening the firefighters and throwing stones at them, the youths grabbed at one of the hoses in an attempt to turn it on the crews.
A Northants police spokesman said officers were called at about 7.30pm to provide back-up.
An officer attended and the situation was calmed, said the police spokesman.
Crews eventually extinguished the fire and left the site shortly after 8pm.
Firefighters were said to be angry at the attack, which happened as they were attempting to stop the blaze from spreading to nearby buildings.
Leicestershire Fire and Rescue at first refused to comment on the incident, then moved to down-play it.
The firefighters involved were instructed not to talk to the press.
But a spokesman from Northants police confirmed to the Mail that it was members of the fire service who had reported missiles being thrown at them when they requested police back-up.
And Roger Dunton, Leicestershire county secretary for the Retained Firefighters' Union, told the Mail he had also spoken to town firefighters who told him objects were thrown.
Mr Dunton, of Western Avenue, Harborough, said: "They got pelted, I understand, with stones and various things thrown by about 20 to 25 youths while they were trying to put the fire out. None of my members were hurt but I think others had bumps and bruises.
"It's something that's extremely unusual and hopefully not something that will become a regular occurrence.
"I'm absolutely appalled by it. I understand Northamptonshire police are investigating and I hope they take appropriate action."
Three crews from stations in Northants and Harborough had already been called to near the site earlier that day, at about 12.30pm, to deal with straw bales which had been set alight.
They used forks to spread the straw and put out the fire, preventing it from spreading to hedges.
Police said both incidents are being treated as arson.
A spokesman said: "We received a call from Leicestershire Fire Service saying they were attending a fire at Justin Park and nearby Glebe Farm.
"There were concerns that a number of youths present were threatening them. There was some suggestion that missiles had been thrown and they requested police presence. An officer attended and the situation was calmed. It wasn't a serious incident."
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Weather for Harborough
Sunday 05 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 1 C to 4 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 0 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: North west
