Fire chiefs have hailed a major investment in new mobilisation technology that will deliver a "whole new level" of capability for Scotland's firefighters.
The technology will replace the "ageing systems" currently in use by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s three operations control rooms in Johnstone, Edinburgh, and Dundee, and deliver enhanced day-to-day and major incident response capability.
The SFRS has signed a seven-year, £29.5 million contract with US-based Motorola Solutions to provide a single, cloud-based solution to mobilise firefighters to emergencies following a 999 call.
The new system will allow SFRS operations control staff to deal with day-to-day incidents effectively and efficiently.
Andy Watt, SFRS deputy chief officer, said: "Our 180 operations control staff across Scotland are the unseen frontline of the service, working together they play a critical role in the safety of Scotland’s communities.
"Operations control rooms by their very nature and existence, are fundamental elements in the delivery of SFRS core services and are a key component in ensuring we keep the communities of Scotland safe.
"A settled future platform is essential in enabling us to do that, this cutting-edge technology will further enhance our capability by delivering a whole new level of day-to-day flexibility and resilience, providing SFRS with a single, stable and interoperable system across our three operations control rooms."
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The service will now work closely with Motorola Solutions on the delivery of the new mobilising system.
It is the latest investment from the service which included the re-opening of Dingwall Community Fire Station last month following a £4.6m renovation.
Siobhian Brown, minister for victims and community safety, said: “I appreciate the work of the dedicated and professional Scottish Fire and Rescue Service control room staff who are on the frontline when people are in need of an emergency response.
“Once successfully implemented, this new technology will support SFRS to meet the challenges of changing demands on the service and enhance their capability and resilience as they continue to keep our communities safe.”
Last year, the Service attended around 80,000 incidents – each requiring one or more 999 calls.
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