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Reach
Issue 7 2014
hours. “I was impressed with how
easy the graphical user interface
made the integration, and how
quickly it was implemented. It is
extremely user friendly, and it was
actually the installation of the cables
that took the longest amount of time.”
“Within hours of the installation
taking place, the command unit was
deployed to a large property thatch fire
in the New Forest where it performed
faultlessly to the extent that the on
board crew expressed their surprise at
how fast the IP connection was.”
With 4GMax, Hampshire FRS is
able to link all back office systems
with those of the ICU and update
dynamic files in near real time.
Microsoft applications, email,
internet access, Google Maps and
other relevant documents can be
delivered direct to the ICU via 4GMax.
Meanwhile, building and site plans
can be downloaded to the smart
board in the ICU, displayed onscreen
and hand drawn notes added. These
are then date and time stamped
before being uploaded back to Fire
HQ at the conclusion of the incident.
“The crew aboard the ICU can see
a table of all the vehicles deployed to
a job, and they know who is on-site
and who is on their way,” said Paul.
“They can also use this information
as a management tool for seeing
who arrived first and who needs
relieving, which is vital if a large job
goes on for a longer period of time.
Breathing apparatus is where this
is a major concern, as the working
time for firefighters is quite short
due to the atmosphere they are
working in, so we need to turn this
around quite quickly.”
Further applications of 4GMax
are now being investigated by the
fire service.
“It could replace the GSM modems
within fire appliances that are too
small to be fitted with a satellite dish,
and could also be put into a flight
case to provide a portable office,”
said Paul. “Given that the solution
employs a switched router, one unit
could support multiple PCs in a
strategic holding area.”
Hampshire FRS is also looking to
implement 4GMax in its CSU, as well
as its community support vehicle.
It will also be supporting a new
Accountability System developed
by the fire service that identifies
the resources deployed on the fire
ground by name, abilities, crew
status, location, and whether or
not they have been allocated to a
specific sector.
A further potential application for
4GMax is to run voice over IP for the
ICU, which has an extension number
from Fire HQ’s telephone system.
This could potentially support all
the telephony facilities employed by
Hampshire FRS, such as conference
calling, dialing in/out to the public
switched telephone network (PSTN),
and free calls over the wide area
network (WAN).
*Firelink is Airwave’s digital radio and
mobile data solution for the Fire and
Rescue Services of England, Scotland
and Wales. Since going live in 2010,
Firelink has provided mission-critical
communications via Airwave’s
Emergency Services Network (ESN).
Pictures on page 8, 9 and 11 courtesy
of Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service.
Right: Hampshire Fire and Rescue
Service attends some 25,000
incidents annually.
Effective communications are key to incident management.
