Men charged with assaulting firefighters at Taperoo accuse MFS of ‘overdue force’

Two men arrested for allegedly assaulting four firefighters say they were acting in self-defence after fire crews were called out to their home on Sunday night.

Fire crews have been assaulted and a fire truck has been damaged as the MFS were called to reports of a fire on Sunday night.

Four officers were allegedly assaulted by two men when MFS crews arrived at the fire.

Police were then called to the scene after an MFS crew reported a fight had broken out.

Police will allege on a phone recording an MFS crew member can be heard saying:

“Can we please get SAPOL asap, we have a fight breaking out between crew and owners, over.”

Police said a 36-year-old man and a 37-year-old man had been arrested over the incident and charged with assault and damaging a fire truck.

The accused men identified as Nathan Davidson and neighbour Sreko Rakic claimed they were acting in self-defence.

The two men told 7NEWS they were having a barbecue in their front yard and had done nothing wrong.

Nathan Davidson, and Srecko Rackic, the Pair who claim self-defence after four firefighters allegedly attacked them. Picture: 7NEWS

“They just come with overdue force, really,” Mr Rakic said.

“They (firefighters) just started being abusive and grabbed one of my work mates, grabbed him by the throat, started slamming him around there.”

Mr Davidson told 7NEWS his property had been damaged.

“They ripped my door off with a crowbar and then assaulted me a few times.”

Footage taken of police arriving at the scene shows Mr Davidson telling the officer to get off his property.

“It’s my house,” Mr Davidson is heard saying.

A police officer then responds, “It’s public property, you f***ing idiot.”

Earlier, United Firefighters Union of South Australia secretary Max Adlam said the firefighters were just trying to do their job.

She said “stupid” behaviour put undue pressure on emergency service personnel who already have a difficult job.

Mr Davidson alleges his property had been damaged. Picture: 7NEWS

“It is traumatic for anyone having to respond to an incident like this,” she said.

“They (fire crews) are highly trained and very resilient – but the cumulative effect means we are dealing with compensation claims.”

She said SAPOL were quick to respond and there were tools to help support crews in the aftermath of such an incident.

“People are offered things like counselling, medical support and security.”

Ms Adlam said on the whole the union was seeing a general increase in PTSD claims as well as a rise in claims relating to carcinogen exposure.

Ms Adlam also paid tribute to South Australia Police for their swift response to the incident.

MFS acting chief officer Jeff Swan told media on Monday that there were no significant injuries to staff, however he described the incident as “difficult and challenging”.

“We turn up and are welcomed by people, we’re there to assist – that’s our primary purpose,” Officer Swan said

“It’s a challenge for us to deal with behaviour that is not that welcoming.

“Globally it’s something we see occasionally, we’re not accustomed to it in MFS in SA – it’s rare.”

When asked whether crews were trained in dealing with altercations, he said the protocol was to remove themselves from the situation and await police attendance.

SA Police Superintendent Darren Fielke told media that police arrived while MFS crews were still at the scene.

He said police would allege the firefighters were set upon for no reason.

“(The firefighters) were there just to do their job and they were assaulted while they were doing their duty … (no) emergency service worker should not have to put up with behaviour like that,” he said.

“They’re doing their job and responding to a call for assistance by a member of the public, it’s abhorrent to be frank.”

Both men were bailed to appear in the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court on March 19.