Fire service rollout achieves another major milestone

Published: 20 May, 2010

Scotland's eight fire and rescue services have become the first in the UK to begin operating a new state-of-the-art digital communication system. Airwave, now operational in over 1,100 fire service vehicles and 368 fire stations in Scotland, is part of a UK-wide project to provide the fire and rescue service with the equipment needed to respond to major emergencies including terrorism. When fully rolled out in July 2010, Airwave will be the new national communications service for the FRSs of England, Scotland and Wales.

Known to the FRS as Firelink, it replaces an outdated system, providing improved coverage, security, resilience and interoperability with other organisations such as the police and ambulance services which have also adopted Airwave.

David Sangster, Airwave’s Director of UK Services, said: “Delivery of Airwave to the fire and rescue service is a task of unprecedented proportions and is being achieved with minimal operational impact. It’s fantastic to see it being used operationally, making a difference to the way in which fire and rescue services co-ordinate and manage their resources and respond to public safety issues.”

Fergus Ewing, Minister for Community Safety said: "Firelink represents a significant commitment to the safety and security of Scotland's communities. Scotland's fire and rescue services now have the most advanced communication system in the UK. "The Scottish Government's investment in greater functionality has given Scottish frontline firefighters an unrivalled ability to coordinate their emergency response. The successful delivery of this programme is testament to the excellent partnership working between the eight fire and rescue services, Scottish Government and Airwave."

Airwave has been delivered to around 99% of the 7,800 fire and rescue service (FRS) vehicles nationwide. It has been installed in over 7,700vehicles and is currently in use among 55 Fire and Rescue Services throughout Britain.

Bookmark this

The NRAT – Supporting the UK’s Fire and Rescue Services
Shortly after completing a film documentary of the EU Floodex 2009 (see Fire and Rescue page 38 issue 76, 2009) for the UK’s lead fire service within the project: Hereford and Worcester FRS; Jon Hall (DCFO Gloucester FRS, UK) approached David Lane (MIFireE) in his role as Chairman of the UK’s National Resilience Board. The task being to document the work of the National Resilience Assurance Team (NRAT) of the United Kingdom to illustrate NRAT work for the wider first responder stakeholder audience through a film, using the unique Floodex film footage, the back story being the EU Floodex proof of concept Major Flood Module response. David Lane reports.
Firefighters urge caution during ‘severe cold weather’
‘We’ve recently heard of people putting heaters and hairdryers in their beds to stay warm and this is a disaster waiting to happen” – Dave Brown, Assistant Commissioner for Operations and Mobilising, London Fire Brigade.
Angus Fire – global innovation in fire fighting
Angus Fire is a global leader in fire fighting technology with a long history of pioneering innovation. The company occupies a unique world position in the development and manufacture of fire hose, foam concentrates and fire fighting equipment.
Fike hosts cub scouts for fire safety demonstration
A leader in industrial and explosion protection safety solutions recently hosted a group of scouts for fire and explosion safety demonstrations.
Going underground
Industrial Fire Journal's Editor reports on a one-day seminar on the benefits of a systematic approach to fire safety on underground railways, as organised by London Underground, October 2011.

Sign Up

For the latest news and updates from Hemmingfire.

Company Profiles

Angus Fire – global innovation in fire fighting

Angus Fire is a global leader in fire fighting technology with a long history of pioneering innovation. The company occupies a unique world position in the development and manufacture of fire hose, foam concentrates and fire fighting equipment.

Holmatro - Mastering Power

Holmatro Rescue Equipment develops, manufactures, sells and services high-pressure hydraulic, pneumatic and mechanical rescue equipment. With a comprehensive dealer network on all continents, manufacturing plants in the Netherlands (head office) and USA, and sales offices in China and UK, we supply our products and services to fire and rescue organizations all over the world.

Dr Sthamer - Hamburg: foam fights fire

Dr Sthamer – Hamburg, has been developing and manufacturing state-of-the art firefighting foams since the 1920’s. Having been founded in 1886 by Dr Richard Sthamer, we are still proudly owned and managed by the Sthamer family. Our base is still at the original site where we started in, on the banks of the Bille River in Hamburg Germany.