Fire Control

Newport Fire Station
South Street
Newport
Isle of Wight
PO30 1JQ
Tel: 01983 525121
Email: fire.control@iow.gov.uk

Officer in Charge FCO Stannett: john.stannett@iow.gov.uk

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)

• 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

 REGIONAL FIRE CONTROL CENTRES

In 2012 the Fire Control Centre on the Isle of Wight will relocate to a Regional Control Centre. 

More information regarding this can be found on the Communities and Local Government (CLG) website, by following the link below:

http://www.communities.gov.uk/fire/resilienceresponse/firecontrol

Alternatively read the CLG FiReControl document will give you a good overview.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Question:   Where will our Regional Control Centres be?

Answer:    Our new Regional Control Centre will be based in Kites Croft, Fareham, Hampshire.

Question:    Who is funding the new Regional Control Centre?

Answer:    The initial start up costs will be funded by the CLG. Once each Fire Service's calls cut over into the new Regional Control Centre, the Local Authority will start to contribute towards the running costs of the Regional Control Centre.

Question:    How will a Control Room Operator in Hampshire know where I am if I make a 999 call?

Answer:    Mapping technology will allow the Control Room Operator to see the caller's location on a map.

Question:    What will happen to the 999 calls if the Regional Control Centre is busy?

Answer:    Any calls that cannot be answered by the Regional Control Centre in Fareham will be passed to the nearest available Regional Control Centre, which will be able to mobilise fire appliances to incidents on the Isle of Wight.

Question:    Will our Regional Control Centre take 999 calls for any other Fire Services?

Answer:    Yes. Hampshire, West Sussex, East Sussex, Kent, Surrey, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Royal Berkshire.