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London selects command support |
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Cover story: London Fire Brigade has selected VectorCommand’s Command Support System, after an open international tender, as the integrated technology solution for its next generation of eight high-tech incident command vehicles. In a major new contract signed recently, the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority chose
Command Support System to provide an integrated suite of advanced communication, imagery, database and display technologies to provide a common operational picture to all levels of major incident command, from commanders on the fireground to senior officers at command headquarters. The deal, part of London Fire Brigade’s Command Support Project, will mean London will be fielding the most advanced suite of command and control technologies in the fire services worldwide, says the manufacturer. In addition to using the most up-to-date versions of mobile Wi-Fi, imagery and display technologies, Command Support System will also provide commanders with integrated access to key London Fire Brigade databases such as the mobilising and personnel management systems.
London Fire Brigade Deputy Commissioner Roy Bishop said: “During the last two years we have been identifying our specific command requirements and we are now looking forward to working with VectorCommand to tailor their existing products to meet the needs of a modern fire and rescue service. This is an opportunity to provide even greater support to our front line staff and principal officers managing incidents across London.” Eight command support vehicles are expected to be introduced in summer 2007, with the complete integration of the Command Support System within the vehicles scheduled for early 2008. A large number of other fire and rescue services throughout the UK and abroad have also expressed interest in Command Support System as the command and control solution for their next generation of incident command vehicles and systems.
In addition to the provision of world class operational capability, Command Support System is integrated with VectorCommand’s Emergency Command System family of training technology. This will allow incident commanders and their teams to have their operational command skills developed and assessed within a common operating system, the same system that they will be using for managing real incidents. According to Dr Mike Griffin, technical director of VectorCommand: “This holistic approach to combining training and operational command, in which London Fire Brigade has taken a world leading position, is likely to be adopted widely throughout the fire service world, for the simple reason that it is the most efficient and effective use of both training and operational resources.”
Commenting on the London Fire Brigade purchase, Jeremy Azis, managing director of VectorCommand, said: “Fire and rescue services throughout the world now recognise that they face a daunting new set of emergency command challenges. Command and control systems generally do not exploit the most recent advances in communications and display technologies. The team at VectorCommand is delighted that, after an exhausting, two-year search, London Fire Brigade has selected Command Support System, a key product within our Emergency Command System suite of integrated, cutting edge technology, for this mission-critical role. We believe our company’s in-depth knowledge of incident command and control and incident command training were decisive factors in our selection for this highly prestigious project, and we look forward to continuing our development of completely integrated, cutting edge solutions for all aspects of incident command and training.”
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