The Control Room

There are ten work stations available within the Control Room. Click the big red button below to view the workstations.

Each position can do any job within Control if necessary, but roles are normally allocated as follows:


Position	Use
1	Additional operators, when enough on duty / Hazmat officer when required
2	Officer in charge, when enough on duty / Hazmat officer when required
3	First Fire Lines Operator
4	Supervisor – either Control Officer or Senior Control Operator
5	Admin and second Fire Lines Operator
6	Channel 1 Radio Operator and third Fire Lines Operator
7	Channel 2 Radio Operator
8	Training Room Used in spate conditions
9	Training Room Used in spate conditions
10	Viewing Gallery Used in spate conditions

Workstation description

Each workstation has 3 computer monitors:

Integrated Communications Control System (ICCS)

This has a touch-sensitive screen, which allows operation of all telephone and radio functions. It gives access to an extensive database, including telephone, radio and pager directories. There are Hot Keys to other Emergency services, utilities (Electric companies, Transco etc), and key agencies, such as the Environment Agency. Telephone calls (Administrative and Emergency) can be made, received and transferred using a switchboard facility.

The system automatically records all transmissions, radio and telephone, which enables messages to be instantly replayed.

The Command and Control (C and C) system

Handles all incident and call related information. It contains a comprehensive database on all locations in Hampshire. When an Emergency call is received, the operator will type the address into this system, search to find the nearest fire appliance, and when the correct one is selected the system will operate the turn-out system for the station. It will automatically set off the station bells, lights, retained or day manned alerters, where appropriate.

Incidents in progress are shown on screen, and are constantly updated as radio and operator messages are received. The status of the appliances is monitored ensuring all mobilisation and attendance times are recorded. A Stop message is received when the incident is under control, and the incident is finally closed when all appliances are booked ‘Home Station’.

A chemical retrieval system (Chemdata) is also available, allowing chemical information to be passed onto the fireground. Information can be sent by fax to a Special Equipment Unit (SEU) if attending the incident. Text messages can also be sent to the fire stations and to Officers pagers.

The Geographical Information System (GIS)

Allows 6 different mapping views to be selected, including a County view, land ranger and street maps down to aerial photographs. The maps are overlaid with symbols, representing Fire Stations, Fire Appliances, Officers and Incidents. This allows all available, and unavailable resources to be monitored throughout the County, and enables the Supervisor to ensure that fire cover is maintained at all times.

From this PC an operator can access other facilities, such as Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint. It also has the facility to monitor other positions in the room, and the Close Circuit Television Screens. Information Pages are also available on this screen, allowing personnel to check special procedures, such as Batch Mobilising (In spate conditions, such as flooding), Make Up Records, Operational Plans, Pipeline information, Pre-determined Attendances to particular types of incidents, Service Orders and Motorway details.

All three systems are linked. When an Emergency call is answered in ICCS, an incident is automatically created in the Command and Control System. Whilst searching for the correct address in Command and Control, a map is brought up in the GIS system, allowing the operator to question the caller further and establish the correct location.