Fire!

My line manager decided yesterday that it was time for me "take charge" yesterday, so she sat on the radio and I was the big boss for half of the West (2W as it's known in the room - covers Feltham, Isleworth, Twickenham, T4 @ LHR, North Kensington, Fulham and Richmond). Time for asking questions was over - time to rely on my own instinct (although obviously she was there should I have any problems!!)

So I'm sitting there watching the calls come in, minding my own business, allocating on the chest pains and drunks, diabetics and mental health patients when I see:

Fire in flat, Persons reported - Caller is in her flat with 2 children and they can't get out as fire is at top of stairwell

Oh bugger! Ok, it's time to put everything I've learnt into practice. Here is how we run these types of incidents:

1. I allocate a crew and ask for a report on arrival (they can assess the situation and inform us if we needs more crews etc) and FRU desk assigns a Fast responder
2. Ring LFB - in this case they had already had multiple calls and are on way - we swopped CAD numbers for both our records and I'm told it is currently a 3 Pump Fire (Standard turn out)
3. Advise the DSO for the sector and send the call to him so he can liaise with other services and assist crew. Also assign a Team leader who is in the area.
4. Advise HART Team - these are the types of things where HART can really come into their own. In this case we send a HART fast response car as well as the 2 control vehicles
5. Advise OCM (Operational Control Manager - the new name for our Superindendents). They need to be aware of any large incidents going on
6. Check my screens for any other calls coming in for the sector - the world doesn't stop just because something big happens and it's important to stay focussed and not neglect the rest of the sector. This is also where teamwork comes into play - The West team on my watch is fantastic and we really are the "well oiled machine" when we need to be.
7. Get update from LFB - this is now a 4 pump fire - advise crews of this through the text message system - we send a message and it appears on their MDT screen in the vehicle
8. A dispatcher is assigned to help out and starts a vehicle log in case this becomes a major incident. This is a big grid where we put in the times each vehicle is assigned, what time they get on scene and then should they start conveying patients to hosp, how many patients they take, which hosp etc.
9. Allocate on a couple of other calls that have come in whilst waiting for the first report.
10. As most crews and DSO's only have 1 phone number for each sector, the person sitting in the main chair gets most of the reports. In this case, the other allocator takes down the details and passes the information to me.
11. Initial reports states that there are only minor injuries but LFB are still evacuating - I breathe a sigh of relief and relax slightly!
12. Inform everyone of current update. Although HART is not yet on scene we keep them running just in case - they have over 15 miles to travel!
13. DSO arrives and states we can stand down any further vehicles - confirms only minor injuries - some smoke inhalation but nothing serious.
14. Cancel HART and advise their desk of new info - also update HEMS, FRU and OCM
15. Approx an hour passes and things return to normal.
16. DSO calls again and states ambulance is conveying one patient to hospital. Also requests 1 vehicle to be on standby at incident as LFB still on scene using cutting equipment - standard precautionary procedure. Advise that currently no vehciles available but will assign asap.
17. DSO, FRU and Team Leader remain on scene for time being.
18. Assign standby vehicle approx 30 mins later although they don't end up staying for very long.

And that's about it - turns out that it was a piece of furniture in the laundry room that was on fire after a dispute. We won't find out any more than that as our job is done.

It was a great learning experience - luckily for everyone it wasn't too serious and it meant that I got the chance to see an incident through from beginning to end. I wouldn't say I was in charge of it as we all played a part in getting the job done but I guess as I was the allocator for it, I was responsible for making sure everything got done.

I can't thank my "west superiors" enough for all the help, guidance and support they have given me in this and in all my training. Between them they have such a huge wealth of knowledge and expertise and they are only too happy to share that. Because of them, and with time and experience, I think I will be a confident and competent allocator. As with anything, if you are willing to listen to their advice, learn from your successes and mistakes, accept criticism, ask when you are unsure and trust your instincts, they will give you as much help as they can. I look forward to the day when I am as good at my job as they are. So to the 3 main allocators who have trained me (you know who you are) as well as all the other people who have answered my many many questions (you know how thorough (some say anal!) I like to be), to all of you - Thank You