Bonfire Night spells trouble in Scotland

EDINBURGH, Scotland, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- This year's Bonfire Night in Scotland turned out to be a major headache for firefighters who said they answered hundreds of calls and were even attacked.

Fire crews in southern Scotland dealt with more than 450 calls, an increase of 100 over last year, The Scotsman reported Friday.

Youths threw stones and shouted insults at firefighters who responded to reports of a malicious fire in the Lothians.

"The attack on a fire crew is totally unacceptable and it is just fortunate that no one has been hurt," said Tom McGrath, group manager.

In Edinburgh fire and rescue crews expect up to 100 calls on an average night but on Bonfire Night they can receive more than 800.

Bonfire Night is an annual celebration marking the downfall of a 1605 plot by Guy Fawkes and fellow conspirators to destroy the Houses of Parliament in London.