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Equipment

Theme 8

Equipment

Last updated: 08 July 2021

Recommendation

33.21a

That the London Fire Brigade urgently take steps to obtain equipment that enables firefighters wearing helmets and breathing apparatus to communicate with the bridgehead effectively, including when operating in high-rise buildings.

Progress date:

August 2022

Responsible for completion:

  • London Fire Brigade

Progress

Status

In progress

The LFB has reported that this recommendation is in progress.

The LFB is working on four workstreams to improve radio communications between the breathing apparatus crews and the bridgehead, including when operating in high rise buildings. These four are: the Radio Replacement Workstream, Radio Repeaters Replacement Workstream, Training Workstream and Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) Replacement Workstream.

The previously forecasted completion date of March 2024 has been brought forward but is dependent on the when the radios are delivered and in operational use. Radios are expected to be in service in August 2023.

Recommendation

33.21b

That urgent steps be taken to ensure that the command support system is fully operative on all command units and that crews are trained in its use.

Responsible for completion:

  • London Fire Brigade

Progress

Status

Complete

London Fire Brigade has reported that this recommendation has been completed.

The London Fire Brigade has installed new hardware servers on all its Command Units, and 4G connectivity has provided enhanced functionality and reliability of the command support system. The Command Units are also each provided with two 4G enabled laptops to provide resilience and support more flexible access to the command support system remote from the Command Unit.

All Command Unit staff have undertaken refresher training.