The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service came under attack after responding to multiple calls from the public reporting a large fire at a forest park in West Belfast last night.
Fire crews were called to the large blaze at Colin Glen Forest Park where they came under a barrage of stones and were forced to withdraw to prevent injury to the firefighters.
The PSNI attended the scene a short time later to disperse the crowds when they discovered flammable materials which had been brought into the forest park and used to set the fire.
Posting on Facebook, the PSNI said: "This evening [Saturday] colleagues in the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) answered multiple calls from members of the public concerned about a large fire in the Colin Glen Forest Park. On arrival the fire service were stoned and withdrew to prevent personal injury.
"Officers from West Belfast Neighbourhood Policing Team attended a short time later and dispersed a crowd of juveniles. Police discovered flammable material brought into the forest park, which had been used to set the fire.
"If you have any information relating to this incident, please contact police online or call 101 and quote reference number CC2025120401854."
Local councillor for the area Siobhán McCallin said that since January, there has been a rise in "anti-community activity" in the area.
"Colin Glen Forest is a nature haven and a much cherished historical site. It is enjoyed by so many from within the community and attracts visitors from everywhere. It is one of the crowning jewels of West Belfast," she said.
"We appeal to parent’s if they smell smoke/fire off their children to please explain the dangers associated with these fires.
"The forest, its ecosystem, and wildlife are at serious risk. This anti-community behaviour is unacceptable and takes away from all the positivity we have to celebrate and be proud of about our much-loved West Belfast. This is a small minority of youths engaging in this and is not reflective of the majority of our young people.
"Myself, Órlaithí Flynn MLA, Paul Maskey MP, Cllr Arder Carson and Cllr Áine Mccabe are due to meet with the board of Colin Glen, which was prearranged following this uptick in reckless behaviour.
"I appeal to our young people and beg them not to engage in this anti community behaviour. Since January we’ve seen a rise of stolen bins and verbal assaults on our West Belfast safety team who keep us elected representatives up to date with this anti community behaviour on a regular basis.
"We can’t allow this to continue! Please stop now before this becomes a tragedy."
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