The end of an era for fire service command

The fire service’s Brigade Control originally came to its Birkenshaw headquarters in 1974, and the move is to help modernise the service.

Project Director, Deputy Chief Fire Officer Steve Beckley said: “The new command and control centre in Leeds is a major step forward and has been designed to house the very latest in emergency control centre technology.

“A collaboration project with South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service will see the introduction of the new system later in the summer.”

The official opening of the new site at Leeds was held last week, and was unveiled by the Lord Lieutennant of West Yorkshire Dr Ingrid Roscoe.

Staff will move to the new site in Leeds over the course of the summer.

A statement from West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said the collaboration with South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue would allow both services to provide fallback arrangements, enabling each to provide assistance to one another where needed.

“The collaboration has involved a significant joint investment in the procurement of a new state-of-the-art mobilising and communications system,” it said.

Although the command centre will move to Leeds, the headquarters for the service will remain on site in Birkenshaw. The West Yorkshire Fire

Service moved to Birkenshaw after it was formed following the amalgamation of the West Riding, County Borough, and City Brigades.