Painless transfer of 999 fire control to Huntingdon
Wednesday, 26th October 2011.
When you dial 999 for the fire service now your call will be taken in Huntingdon rather than Ipswich.
Suffolk's fire control has been relocated into Cambridgeshire as part of a cost-saving measure.
The Cambridgeshire and Suffolk Combined Fire Control merger was completed at 8pm last night and all systems are working smoothly, the councils say.
From midday yesterday, all 999 calls for both Suffolk and Cambridgeshire were answered by control operators based at Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service (CFRS) headquarters in Huntingdon. Operators are also mobilising both services’ fire engines.
In the first 12 hours or so 50 emergency calls (16 in Suffolk, 34 in Cambridgeshire) were answered by the Combined Fire Control.
A Suffolk County Councilspokesman said: "It offers a more resilient, cost-effective, tried and tested mobilising system to the communities of Cambridgeshire and Suffolk, which has the capacity to be further enhanced in the future. The two services will continue working together to ensure the people of both counties receive a first class level of service.
Mark Sanderson, assistant chief fire officer for Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service said: “We would like to express our sincere gratitude for the hard work and loyalty that all control operators have shown.
“We recognise that it’s been a difficult time for staff over the last few years, with changes brought about by the regional control centre project and also the combined control project and we pay tribute to their hard work and dedication.
“In order to make the project a success, a great deal of work has taken place, not only in fire control, but also behind the scenes.
“As much as possible we have tried to harmonise the way that both services respond to incidents so that we deliver a consistent service.
“This includes everything from the number of fire engines we send to an incident, to the way that firefighters communicate with fire control during an incident.
“The project has been possible due to the very close partnership between Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. Two services working together using tried and tested modern technology to create a better service for all.”
Neil Newberry, assistant chief fire officer for Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “We don’t expect that anyone dialling 999 will notice a difference to the way that their emergency calls are being taken.
“The combined fire control also gives us the opportunity to work together in the future and further improve the service we offer to those in both counties.”
Suffolk's fire control has been relocated into Cambridgeshire as part of a cost-saving measure.
The Cambridgeshire and Suffolk Combined Fire Control merger was completed at 8pm last night and all systems are working smoothly, the councils say.
From midday yesterday, all 999 calls for both Suffolk and Cambridgeshire were answered by control operators based at Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service (CFRS) headquarters in Huntingdon. Operators are also mobilising both services’ fire engines.
In the first 12 hours or so 50 emergency calls (16 in Suffolk, 34 in Cambridgeshire) were answered by the Combined Fire Control.
A Suffolk County Councilspokesman said: "It offers a more resilient, cost-effective, tried and tested mobilising system to the communities of Cambridgeshire and Suffolk, which has the capacity to be further enhanced in the future. The two services will continue working together to ensure the people of both counties receive a first class level of service.
Mark Sanderson, assistant chief fire officer for Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service said: “We would like to express our sincere gratitude for the hard work and loyalty that all control operators have shown.
“We recognise that it’s been a difficult time for staff over the last few years, with changes brought about by the regional control centre project and also the combined control project and we pay tribute to their hard work and dedication.
“In order to make the project a success, a great deal of work has taken place, not only in fire control, but also behind the scenes.
“As much as possible we have tried to harmonise the way that both services respond to incidents so that we deliver a consistent service.
“This includes everything from the number of fire engines we send to an incident, to the way that firefighters communicate with fire control during an incident.
“The project has been possible due to the very close partnership between Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. Two services working together using tried and tested modern technology to create a better service for all.”
Neil Newberry, assistant chief fire officer for Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “We don’t expect that anyone dialling 999 will notice a difference to the way that their emergency calls are being taken.
“The combined fire control also gives us the opportunity to work together in the future and further improve the service we offer to those in both counties.”
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