Bedford FRS: High rise incident demonstrates fire service commitment to improvement

A flat fire has successfully tested a new way of working that aims to keep the public safe and support better communication by the fire service at high-rise incidents.  

A 999 call received by Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service Fire Control indicated there was a fire in Dorset Court, Luton, and a full high-rise response was sent. The initial stage of the operation was met with a challenging situation as call was received from a distressed resident on the 14th floor who needed fire survival guidance (FSG). The individual, encountering smoke in the corridor preventing their exit, sought refuge in their flat. The Service’s FSG evacuation board protocol was activated. Proactive advice was provided to the resident, instructing them to remain on their balcony for safety.  

Watch Commander Washle, control operator, remained in constant communication with the resident, providing reassurance while fire crews quickly responded to the 14th floor. Thanks to swift and decisive fire service actions, the fire was quickly extinguished and the building ventilated. 

This incident used an interim manual solution for FSG, which is the first step in working towards full electronic solution at high-rise incidents – a requirement that fire services have been asked to develop and implement following the 2017 Grenfell Tower tragedy.  

Group Commander James West explained: "The FSG interim manual solution, in line with our crews’ operational guidance, demonstrated our commitment to ensuring the safety of residents in high-rise buildings. This incident serves as a positive example of our ongoing efforts to enhance FSG procedures and overall evacuation strategies for high-rise building incidents." 

The collaborative effort ensured effective coordination throughout the operation and the interim manual solution proved to be effective, showcasing the preparedness and proficiency of the Service.The FSG electronic evacuation board is the next step in developing the flow of information between fire control and firefighters on the ground.  

Since this incident, the Service has moved to the next step on its journey towards full electronic communication at high-rise incidents, which is now being tested online, with crews training with it in March ahead of a go-live soon after. 

The evacuation board is a system that allows control rooms to populate a live document of proactive fire survival guidance being given, which gives crews at the scene information to make decisions as well as update once they have carried out rescues along with enabling Fire Control and incident commanders to develop a full understanding and record of the progress of rescues and evacuation. 

Stuart Auger, Head of Response, added: “The Service remains dedicated to continuous learning and enhancement of operational procedures to better serve the community. The new bespoke system means the Service electronically has the unique information of every high-rise building in Bedfordshire, giving the public the reassurance that both control teams and frontline crews can work collaboratively to understand risks in a live incident environment.”