Yobs attack firefighters

Yobs set fire to an electrical sub-station – then taunted firefighters and hurled a firework at their engine as they tackled the blaze.

The fire threatened to knock out power to thousands of homes in the Black Country. Police are investigating whether the same louts are responsible for the blaze and the attack on fire crews.

Piles of rubbish including wooden pallets and boxes were stacked up against the door of the Central Networks sub-station at Ketley Fields, Pensnett, and set on fire.

The blaze started at around 9.55pm yesterday and two engines from Brierley Hill Fire Station turned out to the scene.

Fire service watch commander David Foley said: "That sub-station powers most of the area around there so it would have left a lot of homes without electricity had it not been dealt with.

"Fortunately a wooden door had been replaced with a metal door because of past problems and that is the main thing that stopped it being destroyed."

While firefighters dragged the burning rubbish away, a group drove past in a white Ford Sierra, lit a firework and threw it underneath one of the fire engines. They also hurled abuse at the firefighters before speeding off.

Watch commander Foley said: "The firework could have caused a lot of damage to equipment stored underneath as well as threatening firefighters lives."

Police are studying CCTV footage from the area to see if they can trace the culprits.

The circular firework went off but firefighters managed to push it out from underneath the engine using poles and put it out before it caused any damage.

Watch commander Foley said: "It certainly doesn't help when you are trying to cope with such a serious incident to have people hurling abuse at you and trying to endanger firefighters lives."

Anyone with any information can contact police on 0800 113 5000.