IT revolution for Shropshire Fire Service may be a "lifesaver"
Computer experts at Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service have successfully “revolutionised” their IT systems saving time, money and possibly even lives.
They are believed to be the first among the UK’s 52 brigades to update software for the Command and Control Centre which “shaves seconds” off call out times, cuts the costs of lengthy computer repairs and makes the network run more smoothly.
They now want other emergency services across the UK to consider changing the way they use IT.
The new “virtual” platform introduced six months ago has now been fully tested with the benefits appreciated throughout the organisation from Fire Authority members to fire control staff.
A number of other fire and rescue services are interested in using the technology – widely used in other industries – but never before used in Command and Control systems.
Chief Fire Officer John Redmond said the service had taken “a bold step” to change the traditional technology which the brigade had relied on to run its Command and Control Centre to ensure firefighters responded swiftly to 999 calls.
Sally Edwards, ICT Manager and team leader Ron Davia, (correct)were both commended for their work to develop and implement a virtualised Command and Control system.
“Our ICT team is unafraid to question traditional methods and we have come to recognise the advantages of using technology in making our communities safer,” he added.
Sally said: “We have improved the resilience and availability of our system by adopting a new approach rather than the way it’s been for years. The technology is already widely used but not in command and control systems.
“We have made huge improvements and want other emergency services to consider taking the same approach.”
It was 18 months ago that she began to research how to reduce the time it took to repair technical faults in the computer network used at Shrewsbury fire HQ.
“The recovery time from a technical failure could take up to eight hours depending on the severity of the fault and I felt this was unacceptable.”
But her initial investigation was met with a reluctance to change the established system where 999 operators use computers to alert firefighters to an emergency.
“I researched it with other brigades and they didn’t want to change. I found the case was compelling and eventually concluded that the only reason why computer change had not been introduced was because no-one else had done it.”
Colleague Ron Davia said: “It has shaved seconds off the time it takes when an emergency call comes in.”
Shropshire’s fire chief added: “Initially I questioned the need to change a system that worked for all fire and rescue services but after Sally and Ron explained that it offered many advantages and no risk, they got my full support.”
It also means that the Command and Control centre can be mobilised, within broadband reach, to wherever it is needed.
Shropshire’s ICT department presented their results to an ICT conference for the Chief Fire Officers’ Association in Reading last year.
