New combined fire control unit starts off well
Wednesday, 18th January 2012.
The first few months of the new fire control which sees Haverhill calls answered in Cambridgeshire have passed off well.
The UK’s first Combined Fire Control continues to deliver effective and resilient 999 control services for the people of Suffolk and Cambridgeshire while achieving improved value for money, Suffolk County Council says.
Mark Sanderson, assistant chief fire officer for Suffolk, and his Cambridgeshire counterpart Neil Newberry delivered the message as the Combined Fire Control approaches its third month of operation.
At noon, on October 25 last year, control operators based at Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Headquarters in Huntingdon started answering and managing Suffolk’s 999 fire calls and mobilising Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service’s fire engines.
A total of 32 fire control staff now work as a single team in the Combined Fire Control, including six former Suffolk-based fire control operators.
So far 3,614 emergency calls have been handled by the Combined Fire Control, including 1,445 in Suffolk and 2,169 in Cambridgeshire.
The Combined Fire Control has dealt with periods when there have been a large volume of calls received and also periods of higher than normal operational activity, requiring many 999 calls for both counties to be managed simultaneously.
Mr Sanderson said: “During 2011, both services put an incredible amount of effort into the project. Our aim at the outset was to create a Combined Fire Control that was effective and resilient whilst helping us to improve value for money.
“We continue to focus on ensuring that the people of both Suffolk and Cambridgeshire are receiving an effective 999 service and that our fire engines are dispatched to incidents as quickly as possible. Our efforts remain focused on delivering what is an essential service to the public.”
Cllr Colin Spence, Suffolk County Council’s portfolio holder for public protection, said: “The Combined Fire Control is an excellent example of partnership working between Suffolk and Cambridgeshire.
"Our aim has been to try and protect front line services and not reduce fire engines or fire stations and the new control arrangements are an excellent example of how we are continuing to deliver an important service to the people of Suffolk and Cambridgeshire, but at a significantly reduced cost to the local taxpayer.
“I am very proud of the fantastic dedication and professionalism shown by our control staff as they continue to deliver what is an essential service for both Suffolk and Cambridgeshire.”
The UK’s first Combined Fire Control continues to deliver effective and resilient 999 control services for the people of Suffolk and Cambridgeshire while achieving improved value for money, Suffolk County Council says.
Mark Sanderson, assistant chief fire officer for Suffolk, and his Cambridgeshire counterpart Neil Newberry delivered the message as the Combined Fire Control approaches its third month of operation.
At noon, on October 25 last year, control operators based at Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Headquarters in Huntingdon started answering and managing Suffolk’s 999 fire calls and mobilising Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service’s fire engines.
A total of 32 fire control staff now work as a single team in the Combined Fire Control, including six former Suffolk-based fire control operators.
So far 3,614 emergency calls have been handled by the Combined Fire Control, including 1,445 in Suffolk and 2,169 in Cambridgeshire.
The Combined Fire Control has dealt with periods when there have been a large volume of calls received and also periods of higher than normal operational activity, requiring many 999 calls for both counties to be managed simultaneously.
Mr Sanderson said: “During 2011, both services put an incredible amount of effort into the project. Our aim at the outset was to create a Combined Fire Control that was effective and resilient whilst helping us to improve value for money.
“We continue to focus on ensuring that the people of both Suffolk and Cambridgeshire are receiving an effective 999 service and that our fire engines are dispatched to incidents as quickly as possible. Our efforts remain focused on delivering what is an essential service to the public.”
Cllr Colin Spence, Suffolk County Council’s portfolio holder for public protection, said: “The Combined Fire Control is an excellent example of partnership working between Suffolk and Cambridgeshire.
"Our aim has been to try and protect front line services and not reduce fire engines or fire stations and the new control arrangements are an excellent example of how we are continuing to deliver an important service to the people of Suffolk and Cambridgeshire, but at a significantly reduced cost to the local taxpayer.
“I am very proud of the fantastic dedication and professionalism shown by our control staff as they continue to deliver what is an essential service for both Suffolk and Cambridgeshire.”
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