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Our Fleet | FSEC | Control

Fire Control - What We Do

All "999" calls requesting the Fire Service are transferred to Fire Control. It is then our responsibility in an emergency to:

  • Take the fullest details of the incident in a calming but controlling manner
  • Give life saving advice if a caller is trapped by fire by utilising ‘Stay on the line’ techniques if appropriate 
  • Start a computerised incident log
  • Mobilise the appropriate resources to the incident
  • Inform the Brigade’s Duty Officers as necessary
  • Liaise with other emergency services and agencies
  • Maintain a log of all resources committed to the incident, including details of who is crew commander and how many fire fighters are on each appliance
  • Ensure that adequate numbers of fire cover appliances are distributed across the Island in case of concurrent incidents
  • Co-ordinate the rescue/fire fighting effort if on multiple fronts
  • Monitor the situation and dispatch additional resources if requested or if prudent
  • Handle other 999 calls at the same time
  • Use databases to retrieve information on chemicals or hazards stored on premises to keep the fire fighters as safe and informed as possible
  • Keep a record of available appliances in case of additional incidents
  • Dispatch the Fire Investigation Team, Brigade Photographer or Building Inspector (if appropriate)

Plus, we also do other things not immediately connected with 999 emergencies:

  • Handle calls, out of hours, for the Council’s Highways Department
  • Act as a switchboard for calls to Newport Fire Station, Community Fire Safety, Brigade Workshops and Stores
  • Store the Accident Book and complete all the necessary paperwork if a fire fighter is injured
  • Record defective equipment and building faults, and call out the Duty Workshops Fitter to fix urgent mechanical problems
  • Manage replenishment of food/water packs carried on fire appliances
  • Take details of special events happening at the Stations around the Island and produce a Diary for distribution throughout the Brigade
  • Distribute the weekly listing of road closures throughout the Brigade
  • Brief the Duty Officer and Senior Duty Officer each morning
  • Make sure the Archive voice recording of 999 calls is kept
  • Continually train to make sure our knowledge is up to date and that we know where the best sources of information are