Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service (CFRS) is celebrating its control room operators.

The unsung heroes, who answer 999 calls, manage resources, give life-saving advice, and bring comfort at the end of the phone, are being recognised as part of International Control Room Week from October 21 to 27.

The celebration comes at a significant time for CFRS, which recently implemented a new, complex mobilising system.

This new system, procured from French company SYSTEL, required the control room staff to adapt quickly, learning the intricacies of the new system and ways of working.

Chief Fire Officer Matthew Warren said: “It was a real milestone to switch over to the new mobilising system last month.

International Control Room Week celebrated by Cambridgeshire Fire Service International Control Room Week celebrated by Cambridgeshire Fire Service (Image: Submitted)

"This is a hugely complex and intelligent mobilising system that takes and feeds data from several different sources to ensure we send the nearest and most appropriately skilled crews for each type of incident in the fastest time possible."

Mr Warren praised the control room staff for their significant contribution to the successful transition, saying: “I am incredibly grateful to all our colleagues who work in our combined control room for their part in the successful transition."

The new SYSTEL system was a necessary investment for Cambridgeshire and Suffolk fire and rescue services, as the old system was outdated and at risk of breaking.

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Sebastien Guyot, SYSTEL's chief executive officer, commended the control room staff and SYSTEL team for their professionalism.

He said: "My team have been very impressed with the highest level of professionalism shown by everyone in the control room and project team.

"I am always impressed with the multi-tasking skills control operators need in listening, inputting information, reading screens and ensuring the right help is sent and I am delighted to see our system successfully supporting this vital role in Cambridgeshire and Suffolk’s Combined Fire Control.”