Hi-tech fire duty (From Penarth Times)

Hi-tech fire duty

PENARTH fire station has been given a new state-of-the-art fire engine to help the fighters respond to specific dangers in the emergencies they are called to.

The appliance has an innovative computer system housed in its cab, which will give firefighters access to information about potentially hazardous sites and substances at a touch of a button.

Station Officer at Penarth Fire Station, Fraser Ingram, believes that this new technology will not only protect the area's businesses, their employees and the local community, but also the firefighters themselves. He said: "The computer system will provide critical information to help safeguard the fire crews when they are most at risk. Traditionally, crews en route to an incident would be provided with an address and the type of emergency.

"This new system and the volume of information it provides, however, greatly enhances the safety of firefighters and improves protection to the public, property and the environment.

"For example, firefighters will be able to look at floor plans of the building involved and navigate their way through reduced smoke visibility to locate any casualties and help the crews make tactical decisions."

The Data to Cabs project, which has been developed in conjunction with IMASS and RMAPS, is currently being rolled out across the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service area.

All computers systems installed on fire appliances have been designed to withstand a variety of conditions including movement, vibration, shocks and moisture.

A South Wales Fire Service spokesman said: "Fire crews heading to an emergency, such as a factory fire or chemical incident, will be able to use the touch-screen computer to look at floor plans of the site and identify the location of hazards such as gas mains and flammable materials.

"State-of-the-art equipment, which is designed to offer an improved service to the commercial and industrial communities of Penarth, and protect the firefighters who serve them, has now been installed at the town's fire station."

They will also be able to view route maps details about the surrounding area, as well as accessing essential operation information such as nearest water supplies and type of occupancy.