A STATE-of-the-art piece of kit has arrived to help life-savers deal with major incidents.
Warwickshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service have welcomed the delivery of a new Command Support Unit (CSU) at a showcase event with councillors.
Based on the long wheel base Mercedes Sprinter high roof panel van, the unit will be able to be mobilised to anywhere in the county at any time, to act as a central base from which to manage a major emergency.
It will usually be deployed where an incident has five or more fire crews in attendance.
A spokesperson for the county council said: “This technically advanced vehicle boasts state-of-the-art equipment which will allow real time transfer of data and information to commanders to assist in critical decision making processes, as well as essential planning and monitoring during the emergency phase of an incident.
“It also has the capability of bringing together different levels and sources of information, which is then captured and relayed to the Incident Commander on a 40 inch monitor located on the external briefing area of the vehicle.”
Assistant chief fire officer for Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service, Jim Onions added: “We are really pleased to be launching our new Command Support Unit.
“The new vehicle will replace our existing CSU, providing much improved equipment and facilities including a mobile command suite equipped with four fully functional and interactive workstations.
“This will allow operational commanders to get instant access to vital sources of information specific to the incident they are managing.”
Cllr Richard Hobbs, Warwickshire County Council’s cabinet member for community safety, said that the new addition would play a key part in simply helping firefighters to do their job.
“Investing in state of the art vehicles, such as the new Command Support Unit is a real credit to the Service and the County Council,” said the councillor.
“As well as containing the very latest in technology, the new vehicle will ensure that we have an enhanced capability, not only to manage major incidents, but also to ensure that we have the right equipment, vehicles and information for firefighters to do their job.”
In addition to providing a secure base from which personnel and resources can effectively be co-ordinated, the vehicle also provides a focal point to assist partner agencies in identifying the primary control point when they arrive at an incident ground.”
