Firefighter Mark pelted with heavy fireworks: “We are there to help, this is sad”

When Dooren and his team approach a container fire and get out of the fire truck, things quickly happen: “We were immediately hit with projectiles.” From across the street in a porch, a group of young people are throwing fireworks at the car.

The fire brigade reports during New Year’s Eve have decreased from 172 to 146 in two years the number of violent incidents against aid workers has increased this year to 12 violent incidents. Dooren looks back on an unsafe experience. “It also gives a bitter taste that that is the mentality that exists among the young people.”

The team decides to leave: “Our safety comes first,” says Dooren. The police are called and must first determine the situation as safe before the fire truck can return and stop the container fire.

A matter of mentality

Now, a few days later, Dooren looks back on the experience: “I thought: what are they doing here, what inspires these people? We come to provide help and then something like this is done. Fireworks must be beautiful. You must be able to enjoy and now it is being used as a weapon.”

In the case of this fire, the consequences are minor, but according to Dooren this could also be different: “An incident may become bigger and there may be casualties because it lasts longer.” He finds it sad that emergency services, including the fire brigade and police, can do less work because they have to stay alert to these types of situations and help each other in the event of incidents.

Dooren fears for the next New Year: “I work and I’m worried about what will happen then. I think it’s a mentality thing, and that has changed in society. How do we turn that around? I have no idea, but That we have to turn this around is something that is certain.” He hopes that parents will continue to talk to their children about these types of incidents and the danger they pose.