‘Lives put risk’ as firefighters forced to use own mobiles
WEST Midlands firefighters are being forced to use their own mobile phones while dealing with emergencies because of faulty fire engine radios and sat-navs.
Lives are being ‘put at risk’ because vital communication systems on board the vehicles are constantly failing, union bosses have now warned.
Firefighters are resorting to using their mobile phones at call-outs to communicate back to base, and liaise with other emergency services, as a result.
Steve Price-Hunt, secretary of the Fire Brigades Union for the West Midlands, said the union had ‘serious concerns’ for at least two years.
“The union is concerned and it has been raised internally,” he said. “Although we have been assured the fire service is looking into it, we do not believe the issue has been addressed so far.
“I have heard of instances where firefighters have had to use their own mobile phones to direct them to addresses to attend incidents.
“I have been told that satellite navigation systems may have failed, as well as other concerns about communication systems.
“Communications to Fire Con- trol are absolutely vital in an emergency situation, as well as being able to remain in contact with other emergency services.
“Firefighters need to be in regular contact with not only the emergency services but also with the likes of the gas and water boards because supplies to a property may have to be turned off urgently.
“You cannot afford for any type of delay in an emergency situation. Any delay could potentially put lives at risk.”
Fire chiefs said that mobile data and sat-nav services on fire engines were there to complement the knowledge of crews, not to replace it.
Assistant Chief Fire Officer Gary Taylor said: “Firefighters are expected to take individual and team responsibility for knowing their patch, their communities and local risks.
“We continually debrief and review all of our operational activities to highlight areas of good practice and where any improvements can be made.
“This is where the modern use of sat-navs originated – to support and enhance our existing and established methods of travelling to emergencies.
“Mobile data and sat-nav technology on our fire engines and Brigade Response Vehicles is there to assist and complement the crews’ existing professional knowledge, not to replace it.”
He added: “We are currently delivering our best-ever response times to serious incidents, to which our wide-ranging use of technology contributes.
“All of our vehicles carry a detailed map book and, of course, radio links to our fire control. Our firefighters have 24-hour access to a duty engineer and our ICT team should they need it.
“Our crews are actively encouraged to refer opportunities for improvements to our Research and Development team and any areas identified for improvement are considered and resolved as a priority.”