TN Firefighter Injured in Fireworks Attack During Call

A Tennessee firefighter was injured and municipal vehicles were damaged after a crowd launched fireworks at crews responding to a fire early Sunday.

The incident happened shortly before 1:15 a.m. as Jackson firefighters were responding to a dumpster blaze, according to the department. Once at the scene, firefighters and police noticed a crowd of around 40 people gathering.

That crowd then began launching a "significant amount of small and large mortar fireworks" at emergency crews, the department said. One firefighter suffered minor injures, and several city vehicles received minor dents and windshield damage.

"(W)e cannot comprehend what prompted the violence against our firefighters," Don Friddle, the fire department's operations chief, said in a statement. "We will not and cannot tolerate this type of behavior toward those that give so much to protect our community."

Police are "investigating the incident as an assault on a public service official," and they are trying to identify the individuals responsible for injuring the firefighter, the department said.