Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Buys Rugged Tablets and Prepares for Migration from TETRA to 4G ESN

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue is deploying ruggedised Panasonic tablets across its service to help personnel access vital information in case of an emergency. The Fire and Rescue is now deploying 13in Panasonic Toughbook CF-D1 mobile data terminals (MDTs) to help firefighters work more quickly and efficiently in life-or-death situations.

The new ruggedised tablets will be used to provide vital information on the way to a job. The tablets will be able to send status updates to command and control, conduct site risk assessments  such as chemicals stored or location of hydrants, data on vehicles involved in a road traffic accident, etc.

At the scene of an incident, firefighters will also have access to smaller, lighter 10in FZ-G1 Toughpads for asset management and inventory.

The tablets currently are connected to the Airwave TETRA network, but at the same time the service’s vehicles are already being equipped with new antennas so that personnel can seamlessly connect to the 4G-based Emergency Services Network (ESN) in the near future.

“We are investing to change all the existing MDTs to a more agile device to allow the crews to work more efficiently and smartly,” said Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue’s communications project manager. and former station commander, John Barlow.

Callum Faint, Cambridgeshire Area Commander, added: “It’s a massive step forward. In the past, a member of the fire crew would have to remain in the cab of the fire engine. Now, being able to demount the information source and take it with us means the information can be right there, on the scene, really improving our operational effectiveness.”

The service is already considering and planning a number of possible future applications, and hopes to begin to use the tablets more widely on scene.