Thank you for your request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. I can confirm that Essex County Fire & Rescue Service does hold this information.
Please see below the answer to your request.
Final Response:
1. Do your Firefighters when wearing SCBA use an ATEX Digital radio to communicate by voice to BA Control?
No, standard dual function digital/analogue radios are used to communicate to BAECo.
2. Do your Firefighters ever use non ATEX radios when wearing and operating SCBA?
No, as above.
3. Are Firefighters when wearing SCBA issued one radio each or is it one radio per BA team (team of two Firefighters’)?
No, one radio is allocated per team leader BA set (team of two). This radio can be used by both team members via a Wi-Fi module to talk to the BAECo. Our BA equipment has a ‘team talk’ facility where all team members can talk amongst each other within their pre allocated team talk channel.
4. Does your FRS make use of cable wire communications system ?
No.
5. Does your FRS have SCBA Telemetry technology available?
No
6. If yes to question 4, do you make use of the telemetry functionality during incidents? N/A
7. Does your FRS have the means of tracking and locating Firefighters positional location whilst Firefighters are wearing SCBA within buildings? No, other than radio comms to communicate their location.
8. Does your FRS BA Teams make use of Thermal Imaging Cameras (TIC) during an incident?
Yes, all pumping appliances carry two thermal image cameras.
9. If YES to question 7, does the TIC provide the capability to transmit live imagery to BA Control or the Incident Commander?
No, The TIC has the capability to do so, however we do not have the appropriate equipment to support this facility at this time.
10. Does your FRS have Firefighter wearable means of monitoring heat stress and alerting?
No, however on occasions BAi’s may be monitored via a thermal probe.
11. Does your FRS make use of body or helmet worn video cameras at the Incident?
No.
12. If YES to question 11, are the camera worn by Incident Commanders or Firefighters or both.
N/A
13. Does your FRS have the means of transmitting live images captured by body or helmet worn cameras to the Incident Command Unit or Command and Control Centre.
No.
14. Does your FRS Operational Assurance/Safety Officers capture and record incident information via body or helmet worn cameras?
No.
15. Does your FRS Operational Assurance/Safety Officers capture and record incident information via tablet software systems.
Not at this time, however plans are in place to do so via a tablet device.
16. Does your FRS have its own drone technology capability?
No.
17. Does your FRS make use of Positive Pressure Ventilation (PPV) systems?
Yes.
18. If YES to question 17, what year were PPV systems introduced.
2008, carried on all pumping appliances.
19. Does your FRS make use of Water Misting Lancing Systems?
No, however we are about to trial a couple of systems to test their capability.
20. If YES to questions 19, what year were Water Misting Systems introduced. N/A
If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you have the right to apply for an internal review. Internal review requests should be submitted within two months of the date of your original email and should be addressed to: Internal Review, Performance & Data Team, Kelvedon Park, Rivenhall, Witham, Essex CM8 3HB.
Please ensure you quote the above reference number in all future communications.
Please note that the response and data released to you as part of this request will be published on the Essex County Fire & Rescue Service website. The website address is http://transparency.essex-fire.gov.uk/. All requests will be anonymised and no personal information including contact details will be disclosed as part of this process