Pictured left to right in the suite's nerve centre, with a framed certificate celebrating its opening, are Mark Watson, Councillor David Rowlands, Deputy Chief Fire Officer Andy Hickmott and Neil Marshall, Town Mayor of Marlow.

2 February 2009

Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service is celebrating opening one of the premier command training facilities in the UK.  

The new Incident Command Training Suite, based at Marlow Fire Station, was officially opened by Councillor David Rowlands, Chairman of Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes Fire Authority, on Friday (30 January).

The facility features four syndicate pods all equipped with the latest IT and plasma screens, a full size lecture and briefing room and a mock-command unit.

Chief Fire Officer Damian Smith said: “The ability to replicate realistic incidents in a safe, training environment allows us to ensure our operational staff are competent in taking control of an incident.”

Station Manager Mark Watson, who runs the facility, said: “The suite contains technology enabling us to overlay smoke and flames on to digital images of real buildings giving the impression that the buildings are on fire.

“We can then respond to decisions made by the crews and incident commander and change the images accordingly.”

Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service has gained accreditation from the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) as a recognised provider to deliver endorsed fire service courses.

Mark added: “This means that we have been able to train and assess seven senior managers to ILM standards, in addition to our core training, and can now boast one of the best fire service command training facilities in the UK.

External assessors can watch exercises remotely via CCTV and feedback on candidate performance during exercise debriefs. They have commented on the professional approach and facilities offered to candidates.”

The facility is currently used as the Thames Valley Fire Services collaborative Assessment & Development centre in addition to Incident Command Training.

A number of further opportunities are already being arranged, including the potential for some collaborative command training with South Central Ambulance Service, Oxfordshire Fire & Rescue Service and Thames Valley Police.