‘HEROES in a headset’ at Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service (WFRS) have been celebrated during International Control Room Week.
The annual occasion honours those working in emergency despatch control rooms up and down the country for the work they do around the clock, 365 days per year.
In the last year, Warwickshire’s Control Room operatives have answered over 5,100 calls, with the busiest day being August 12 when they handled 37 calls.
Control Room Station Manager Amanda Swinden said: “I am delighted to be able to celebrate International Control Room Week with the crews here. It’s an excellent initiative and highlights the valuable work that the Control Teams carry out throughout the year. They really are ‘Heroes in a Headset’.”
Warwickshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue spokesman Coun Andy Crump added: “The crews in fire control work tirelessly behind the scenes and may not always be recognised for the vital role they play in keeping our county safe.
“International Control Room Week is an excellent opportunity to share their stories with our residents, so they can have a better understanding of what the crews do each day, such as ensuring help is despatched effectively and providing essential advice and reassurance to callers in their time of need.
“Thank you to the team for everything you do.”
The team has been sharing photos, videos, and facts through social media to mark the occasion and provide a better understanding of their role.
Students from Rugby College with Community Engagement Officer Gosia Zielinska and Control Room Station ManagerAmanda Swinden.
They have also been inviting Warwickshire residents to get in touch with any questions or feedback, and have welcomed visitors to the fire control room including students of Rugby College and Sophie Hilleary, Warwickshire’s High Sheriff.
She said: “With their knowledge and experience, our Fire Control Operators provide vital communications between the incident and ensuring a swift appropriate response. Unseen by the public, they save lives every day. I would like to sincerely thank them for their service and dedication”.
Ben Brook, Chief Fire Officer, Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “When you need us most in an emergency, our brilliant fire control operators will answer your call. They do so much more than this though.
“They ensure our people and fire engines are in the right place at the right time, they send the right people and equipment to incidents, they receive information from the scene of the emergency, provide survival advice to callers – and I could continue.
“Our fire control operators are exceptional people taking life-saving actions every day.”
As part of the celebration, WFRS Control joined up with students from Rugby College’s Public Services Course, who had the opportunity to watch live as 999 calls came in.
Course tutor Georgia Morton said: “This opportunity provided students at Rugby College with a tangible experience that they will remember throughout life enabling them to gain first-hand knowledge from the ‘shop floor’. This engagement and interaction is invaluable for students wanting to move into future careers in the Uniformed Protective Services.”
The videos and information shared throughout the week can be found on the WFRS Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn accounts.
