Job Description

Job Title: Firefighter (Control)

Location: Service Control, Eastleigh
Reports To: Control Watch Officer

Job Purpose

Receive emergency calls from the public, promptly mobilise appropriate resources to resolve any situations quickly and arrange for the provision of ongoing support at operational incidents to minimise loss of life and damage to property.

Accountability Statements

1. Monitor the readiness of resources

Monitor and test communications equipment.
Determine and monitor resource state of readiness.

2. Establish the location and nature of emergency calls

Acknowledge emergency calls and record their origin.
Extract information from emergency callers.

3. Mobilise and support emergency fire and rescue service resources

Mobilise fire and rescue service response.
Receive, record and relay information from mobilised resources.
Mobilise additional resources to emergency fire service incidents.

4. Contribute to the provision of specialised information to support emergency operations

Receive, record and relay requests for specialised information.
Access and transmit specialised information.

5. Liaise with key agencies

Process requests for attendance of key agencies.
Provide operational incident information to the Media.

6. Give fire survival advice to callers in danger

Assess the danger to the caller.
Give appropriate advice to callers in danger.

7. Contribute to the evacuation and reinstatement of an emergency fire service control in the event of an emergency

Assist in the evacuation of an emergency fire service control in an emergency.
Assist in the setting up of a secondary emergency fire service control room at Winchester/Royal Berkshire.
Assist in the re-instatement of an emergency fire service control room after an emergency evacuation.

8. Contribute to the health and safety of self and others at work

Maintain personal state of readiness to respond to emergency calls.
Operate safely in emergency fire service control room and other environments.

9. Contribute effectively to administrative processes in the fire service control room

Process administration requirements associated with fire control operators.

10. Contribute to caring for the environment

Conserve nature and ecological processes by promoting actions to reduce pollution and wasteful exploitation of resources and energy.

11. Fairness at work

Comply with the Brigade’s Fairness at work policies.
Contribute to maintaining a fair, positive and productive working environment.

Communications

Members of the public - Speaking to callers, sometimes in a distressed or confused state, to quickly gather information that could save life or prevent damage to property.
Other emergency services (eg, Police, Coastguard) - Receiving or passing sometimes vital information.
Other Fire Brigades - Liaising with neighbouring Brigades regarding incidents/resources attending cross county boundary incidents.
Other external agencies (eg, Gas, Electric and Water Companies, fire alarm monitoring stations, Environmental Agency) - Sharing information, requesting assistance.
Operational and other Service personnel - Giving direction, assistance and sharing information.
Media requests for operational incident information.

Dimensions

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service provides an emergency service to a population of over 1.6 million people in an environment with a wide variety of risks. The Service employs approximately 1550 operational staff and 300 non-uniformed personnel based at 52 fire stations.

An average of 40,000 to 45,000 calls are received by the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Control Room each year.

To protect and serve the community by dealing professionally with emergencies and other dangers through the acquisition and application of the necessary knowledge and skills and attitude, by maintaining readiness and by educating the public in fire safety in order to minimise loss of life and damage to property.