The case for FiReControl

Where did it come from?

Following extensive review, the decision was made to combine the control rooms of the Fire and Rescue Services (FRSs) in England into a network of nine Regional Control Centres (RCCs).

The decision was influenced by various reports commissioned by the Government including:

report by Mott Macdonald: The Future of Fire and Rescue Service Control Rooms in England and Wales: Update 2003
report by Sir George Bain: The Future of the Fire Service: Reducing Risk, Saving Lives (external link)
white paper: Our Fire and Rescue Service

The FiReControl project was formally initiated in March 2004.

Current arrangements

The current system in England consists of 46 stand alone fire control rooms. These are not networked and are unable to back each other up in the event of high demand or failure as they rely on different technologies and operational procedures. Additionally:

most do not have the technology to make sure the nearest fire appliance is sent to an incident. For example a fire appliance may be close to an incident in a neighbouring Fire and Rescue Authority (FRA) boundary but may not be sent to the incident as the technology does not pick up its location.
around half of the current control rooms rely solely on voice communications. This means that one control room is unable to electronically share real time information about incidents with other control rooms.
there is wide variation across control rooms in terms of functionality and the information available to fire control staff and firefighters. All members of the public deserve the best protection which means all firefighters should have access to the best systems.

Benefits of the new system

Moving to regional control will ensure that each RCC is networked to the other eight centres and able to automatically back each other up in times of increased call pressure or failure. The buildings will be purpose built, modern facilities supported by advanced technology. Each RCC will have access to the same information and the ability to manage and deploy resources on a local, regional or national level. These elements combined, will enable control centres to deliver a more robust and responsive emergency service.

Key benefits

Public safety is at the heart of FiReControl and the wider Fire and Resilience Programme. Providing the best equipment, communication and mobilisation response capability to our FRSs will help them protect the public. Following are some of the key benefits of the new system:

Caller identification location technology - the location a call is coming from will be identified automatically, screening hoax calls and saving valuable time.

Satellite positioning equipment - will monitor the whereabouts of each vehicle and the equipment it carries and tell the RCC whether it is the best resource for a particular incident.

Mobile data terminals - will be installed in cabs so firefighters have constantly updated information (including maps and hydrant locations).

Networked solution - the FiReControl network will make sure each RCC is able to provide automatic back-up if one region is too busy or unable to operate. The use of one common control system and procedures will enable FRSs to work together more effectively.

Accommodation - the RCC locations and the building designs adhere to strict security and resilience standards.