Fire engine damage woman charged

The fire engine was reversed into a car and a brick wall

A fire engine was damaged after a woman tried to drive it away while its crew was dealing with a flooding incident.

South Wales Fire and Rescue Service said it meant crews could not deal with a house fire later where people had been reported to be trapped.

Fire crews had been dealing with a flooded house in Pontypool, Torfaen on Saturday when a woman got into the cab and tried to drive off.

She has been charged and bailed to appear before magistrates next month.

Firefighters had been explaining to two neighbours who had been verbally abusing them that they had to deal with a more serious flooding incident than theirs when the woman tried to drive off in the engine.

She reversed it into a car and a brick wall, causing damage to the truck and the car.

The lives of our firefighters and members of the public in the vicinity were clearly put at risk by such irresponsible behaviour Kevin Barry, South Wales Fire and Recue Service

Firefighters called for police assistance and the woman was then arrested.

Gwent Police said she had been charged with the offence of aggravated vehicle taking and use of a motor vehicle without third party insurance.

The damage put the fire engine out of use and meant the crew at the New Inn fire station could not attend a house in Pontypool at 0159 BST on Sunday.

Initial calls reported that people had been trapped by the fire but crews from Malpas and Cwmbran, who had to attend instead, found that everyone was safe.

Assistant chief fire officer Kevin Barry said: "It is simply unacceptable for members of the community to subject our fire crews to abuse at the scene of an incident, where they are trying to help.

"To enter a fire and rescue service vehicle and carelessly manoeuvre it into other vehicles shows a total lack of respect for the hard work of the emergency services.

"This woman's actions are unbelievable and totally unacceptable and we will not tolerate this kind of behaviour.

"The lives of our firefighters and members of the public in the vicinity were clearly put at risk by such irresponsible behaviour."