Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service is shining a spotlight on the people behind the headsets this International Control Room Week.
Running from Monday 26 October, International Control Room Week recognises the teams working behind the scenes in emergency service control rooms and celebrates their professionalism, resilience and dedication.
When someone calls 999 to report a fire or other emergency in Shropshire, the members of our Fire Control team are among the first people they will speak to.
Working 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the team answers emergency calls, gathers vital information and mobilises firefighters and resources to incidents across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin.
Their role doesn’t end when the fire engines leave the station. Control remains a crucial link throughout an incident, keeping in contact with crews, coordinating additional resources and supporting the response as it develops.
It is a role which requires people to stay calm and make important decisions, often while speaking to callers who may be frightened, distressed or facing an emergency.
Station Manger for Fire Control Theresa Hurford said:
“When people think about the fire and rescue service, they quite rightly picture our firefighters responding to incidents, but every one of those responses begins with the team in our Control room.
“They are often speaking to people at some of the most frightening moments of their lives. They need to quickly understand what is happening, reassure the caller and make sure the right help is sent.
“International Control Room Week gives us the opportunity to recognise the skill, professionalism and compassion our Control team demonstrate every day, and to say thank you for everything they do to keep our communities and our crews safe.”
International Control Room Week celebrates control room professionals across emergency services and other critical organisations around the world.
Throughout the week, Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service will be sharing more about the people behind the headsets and the important work they do.
For more information about the role of a Fire Control operator visit: https://nfcc.org.uk/working-in-the-fire-sector/fire-control/
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