How Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Services' new CSU is helping Ashfield firefighters lead the way
Firefighter Sam Mills has hailed Ashfield Fire Station’s new Command Support Unit as a big step forward.
Ashfield recently took delivery of the specialist CSU after being chosen as a prime spot for the unit’s base.
The specialist vehicle, which is equipped with the latest technology, now plays a vital role at major incidents and acts as a central hub for command, communication and coordination.
And station manager Sam says it’s great news for Ashfield after placing them at the business end of major operations.
“It has added so much to Ashfield as a station,” he said. “The CSU will be mobilised to what we class as ‘high category incidents’ - so let’s say eight appliances or more, therefore, it ensures that Ashfield is at the forefront of response.
“Every incident we have, if the CSU gets deployed, will be crewed by firefighters from Ashfield. As a station manager it is fantastic to have a resource at the station that is the forefront of response.
“I will say this with a lot of passion and certainty, this unit is one of the best in the UK rather than just the region. We have fire and rescue services who would like to come along and learn lessons from this unit.”
“I hear a lot of people describing it as a mobile office, and it has the capabilities of that, but for me it is more a central hub of operations where we can ensure the intent of the incident commander is getting to the incident ground and that we are resolving incidents in the most effective way.”
The new unit forms part of Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service's ongoing investment in modern equipment and emergency response capabilities, with a strong focus on improving firefighter safety and delivering the best possible outcomes for the public.