Involvement over nearly 45 years in fire and rescue service delivery and fire engineering has provided an extensive professional working knowledge of the fire sector both in the UK and internationally. A former HM Chief Inspector of Fire Services and Chief Fire Officer he now advises EADS DS on the range of issues that impact upon civil defence organisations.

Other leadership roles include former presidency of the international Institution of Fire Engineers and the UK Chief Fire Officers Association and the current chairmanship of the Federation of British Fire Organisations and, as a Vice President of the Comite Technique International de Prevention et d’Extinction du Feu [international fire and rescue services association] the CTIF Europe Committee. In the later role he works with many professional colleagues throughout Europe seeking to improve first responder capabilities and response.

As a chartered fire engineer and adviser within EADS DS he has involvement in many fire and civil protection subject areas including the major integration project for fire control rooms in England. In his wider role he works in the UK, Europe and overseas with governments, the European Commission, professional associations, legal firms and private companies as well as fire and rescue authorities.

Redefining Crisis First Response

Globally we all now see an unprecedented rapidity of change and frequency in disasters that affect all our communities. These events pose particular problems for those responsible for protecting the public and ensuring that the first response will be effective efficient and flexible enough to meet whatever challenge might threaten society.

Vitally important in these circumstances is the need to support the operational commander in the role of command and control with appropriate and timely interventions that assist decision making, situational awareness, communication and understanding of the evolving scenario whilst avoiding overwhelming the individual or the command and logistic systems.

This presentation will consider: global trends and threats; limitations and lessons learnt from experience; emerging ideas and thoughts on new solutions; and review some of the technical developments that are being introduced as tools and aids to assessment, planning and response.