Command tech to save firefighters' lives

UK fire brigades are taking charge of a powerful new IT command system that promises to save firefighters' lives by offering a real-time overview of major incidents.

Brigades in London and Berkshire are getting ready to use VectorCommand's Command Support System (CSS) to give its commanders access to the situation on the ground during catastrophic events such as large blazes, severe flooding and terrorist attacks.

The system relies on mobile wi-fi, electronic white boards, CCTV cameras, databases, voice commands, touchscreen displays and laptops to give incident commanders instant access to risk levels, crew availability, live video footage and hydrant locations from the front line.

In Berkshire the system will be installed in the force's two mobile command units and 24 front line appliances to allow crews to feed live data back from the incident and receive information from command units.

Berkshire Fire and Rescue deputy commander Olaf Baars said the "cost effective" system could shave up to an hour off the time it takes for a command unit to get to grips with a complex incident, an efficiency he said would "save firefighters lives" in such a fast-moving and dangerous environment.

CSS was developed by VectorCommand for London Fire Brigade in response to its demand for a cutting-edge major incident system in the wake of events such as major floods and the threat of global terrorism.

In London, the technology, which is compatible with existing computer systems and the Airwave secure digital radio network, will be installed in eight high-tech command vehicles and about five other brigades nationwide are in negotiations with VectorCommand about using it.

Baars told silicon.com: "Without any question at all this system will help in preventing the loss of firefighter's lives.

"It will assist in efficient and effective management of larger incidents and sometimes prevent potentially catastrophic events from becoming that."

The system is expected to be fully installed by London Fire Brigade by April and brigade deputy commissioner Roy Bishop said: "This is an opportunity to provide even greater support to our front line staff and principal officers managing incidents across London."

Berkshire will begin using the system fully by the end of the summer, with training rolled out first to full-time and then part-time crews and with upgrades applied to the system in future.

The CSS has also been chosen by the EU to co-ordinate the EU FloodCommand pilot project, a €1.5m scheme to trial the effectiveness of EU countries responding together to major flooding incidents.