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Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service update command and control processes with Fortek
Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service will implement incident management system VISION FX from Fortek as an interim solution to the FiReControl project, providing Buckinghamshire with the latest technology, a more resilient infrastructure and an improved response to all incoming calls.
VISION FX is an integrated solution supporting the fire service that is able to provide support for operational tasks including call taking, mobilisation of resources and incident management. VISION FX offers a range of user interfaces, allowing internal and external users access to mission critical information, regardless of location – enhancing communications and interoperability.
Darryl Keen, Area Manager at Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service, said, “Our current command and control system is a number of years old and we are keen to provide the best possible service to the people who live, work and travel through Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes. The delivery dates for the FiReControl project mean that to maintain the highest levels of service in the intervening period we need to upgrade to a new system. VISION FX will provide this capability and continue the excellent working relationship that this Brigade has with Fortek.”
VISION FX is already compliant to many Government initiatives that are being introduced as part of the FireControl project such as NLPG and integrated risk management. Keen continues, “The VISION FX system from Fortek was exactly what we were looking for. As the software can be easily integrated, it means that when Regional Control comes into action and Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service is merged with other county services, the transition will be a much simpler and smoother process.
“VISION FX can help our operators to save crucial minutes by identifying the closest and most appropriate resources to each inbound call. VISION FX has the potential to do everything that FiReControl offers apart from regional control. It is able to support AVLS (Automatic Vehicle Location), call line identifying with EISEC and integration of our telephony system for example. There is little that FiReControl can provide that we could not do with Fortek’s system.”
Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service serves a population of around 720,000 in the South East of England. The service receives around 20,000 calls for assistance every year, of which about 10,000 are emergency incidents.
Keen concludes, “We feel there is still value to be had from investing in our command and control systems, even at this late stage between now and the cut-over to FiReControl. From our point of view, we have to continue to maintain a robust and reliable mobilising system until cutover to Regional Control Centres. We see the transfer to VISION allowing us to continue to provide the very best service, in conjunction with Fortek, that the people of Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes have come to expect.”
