Our Fleet | FSEC | 
Control
History
Until1966 a joint Fire and Ambulance Control was staffed by two “firewomen” during the day. Night cover was provided by the on duty “firemen”. As well as fire calls, the Control Centre would have to deal with ambulance car service calls, doctors, midwives, social services and “other” emergencies. It was situated at Newport Fire Station in a small room at the front which is now used as the gymnasium.
The joint Fire and Ambulance Service Controls were divided in 1974, with the Ambulance Service setting up its own Control in Carisbrooke (Ambulance Control is normally situated at St Mary’s Hospital today) and the Fire Control remaining at Newport Fire Station, and our present rota system introduced.
1975 saw the staffing establishment in Control increased to eleven. We now had five watches of two operators plus an officer in charge, meaning that Fire Control was now self-sufficient with regards to continuous cover with two trained operators on duty at all times.
The Fire Control Centre moved into the old ambulance building at the rear of Newport Fire Station in 1984, when the first generation of computer aided mobilising equipment was installed
In 1996, we “did it ourselves” to knock through a wall and expand into a recently vacated area, alleviating the cramped conditions in the Control Room. There was also the creation of a command room area, equipment maintenance store, food preparation facilities and office space. We also refurbished and redecorated our own kitchen/mess room with flat packed furniture. Not content with that DIY effort, the following year (1997) we redesigned and implemented an open plan flexible working environment which remains to this day. Most of the data and telephony cabling was re-routed by us with the minimum of assistance from professional sources for power and structural issues. All this was achieved whilst Fire Control remained “live”.
1999 saw the command room area being fully commissioned. It now boasts flexibility in times of major incidents or spate conditions, multi port data and telephony services, briefing boards and modular furniture.
