Two fire engines are being sent to tackle blazes in "hot-spots" in areas of Keighley.

One crew is there to deal with the incident and the other to defend the firefighters from attack.

It was also revealed this week that the appliances are never linked to a hydrant or the mains water supply in case they have to make a quick get-away under attack in the areas.

This week firefighters were pelted with bottles when tackling a bonfire which they believe was deliberately started on derelict land in Dalton Lane, Keighley.

The two crews who attended believe they were lured there on purpose - and that the gang of ten youths had armed themselves with milk bottles for the attack.

None of the fire crews was injured. When powerful lamps were shone on the attackers after the first barrage of missiles, the youths fled.

Keighley station manager Damian Brown said that the CCTV footage carried by the appliances was being examined and the evidence of the attack, at 8.45pm, on Monday night, would be monitored by the Keighley police intelligence unit.

A milk bottle crate was found at the scene and it was suspected it was brought there for the purpose of the attack.

About ten youths were involved, aged in their mid teens. Any of them identified will face prosecution.

Meanwhile, station manager Brown would be visiting homes in the area and speaking to community leaders to get their support.

He said: "The Dalton Lane area was a hot-spot for this type of attack and was one of the areas where two appliances were always sent in case of attack.

"There have been attacks and verbal abuse there in the past so we take precautions," he added.

"We have one crew to put out the fire and another to keep an eye on any youths who gather."

The previous attack in Dalton Lane, which involved stones, was in August but there had been similar incidents in the Bracken Bank and Whinfield areas of Keighley.

Incidents were less frequent than in recent years because of the installation of CCTV and the powerful search lamps, but crews still followed operational procedures to protect themselves.

In hot-spots they never linked to the hydrant or mains but relied on the appliance water tank in case they had to make a quick get-away under attack, he said.

Keighley East Ward councillor Dorothy Ward said parents must take some of the blame.

"These youngsters need some retraining, I think. It is completely wrong that people who are trying to save lives and property should come under attack like this."

Cllr Malcolm Slater, who also represents Keighley East said: "This mindless attack on brave firefighters is deplorable.

"Firefighters who regularly put their lives at risk for the sake of the community should not have to face unnecessary dangers like this.

"I and my ward colleague, district councillor Steve Pullen, call upon the community to identify the irresponsible culprits, who should realise the possible costs of making false calls."

A spokesman for the West Yorkshire Fire Service said all attacks were monitored and in recent months had averaged about ten a month throughout the county.

The service nationally was campaigning to get attacks on emergency workers a specific criminal offence.

Keighley community policing officer, Insp Mark Allsop, said he understood such attacks on firefighters were generally not an issue in Keighley. "What happened in Dalton Lane is the first incident of its kind in Keighley in a long time.

"Obviously, attacks on firefighters are not acceptable and we'll be taking this case very seriously. We'll stamp down very heavily on anyone doing this." He added officers would be mounting extra patrols in the Dalton Lane area.