The Belfast Fire Service has urged youth and community workers to work to halt attacks on firefighters.
Youths stoned a fire engine as it was driving to a fire in the Shankill area of west Belfast late on Monday night, breaking its windows. It was the latest in a series of attacks on the emergency services which has prompted paramedics to demand armed protection in situations of street conflict in Belfast.
The District Commander of the Fire Service warned yesterday that someone could be killed unless the attacks stopped.
Mr Geoff Bannerman said: "These constant attacks have severe resource implications for the Fire Brigade. First of all, the appliance in question is off the run. It also reduces fire cover in the city, and a replacement has to be brought in from Western Command, which is some 70 miles away.
"I would like to appeal to the community leaders and the local politicians to talk to these young people and tell them to desist from these nightly attacks before someone is killed."
Fire officers were attacked during rioting in the Sandy Row area of Belfast at the weekend. A fire engine was also damaged. Two fire engines had to be withdrawn from service temporarily after they were damaged in an attack in Coleraine, Co Derry, last week.
Ambulance crews in the city had demanded armed guards following an attack in Ligoniel in the north of the city in which two paramedics were injured.