Firefighter on 999 call attacked

Nov 22 2012

A firefighter has been taken to hospital after he was assaulted while responding to an emergency call.

The male officer was kicked in the face as firefighters went to help evacuate a man from a kitchen fire at a flat in Linksview House, Tolbooth Wynd, Leith.

The officer, who was the driver of the responding fire engine, was taken to hospital with a cut to his chin. Police were called and the attacker was taken into custody.

Four firefighters in breathing apparatus extinguished the fire and vented the property.

Senior Officer John Dickie said: "No firefighter ever expects to be assaulted in the course of responding to an emergency, it is totally unacceptable.

"The police were called immediately and the man involved was detained. Our firefighter went to hospital for a precautionary check-up. An appliance was taken off the run for two hours until a replacement driver could be found for the fire engine."