Two Yorkshire fire services to set up joint calls system

Two Yorkshire fire services are to set up a joint control system meaning they will be able to handle each other's emergency calls when necessary.

West and South Yorkshire fire services have been awarded a £3.6m government grant to develop the system.

Both authorities would continue to use separate control rooms, but phone calls could be re-routed at peak times, West Yorkshire Fire Service said.

The new system is expected to be in operation by the summer of 2014.

'Comparable risks'

Steve Beckley, West Yorkshire Fire Service's deputy chief fire officer, said the government had encouraged individual fire authorities to examine how best to upgrade their mobilising systems on a local and collaborative basis.

"Operationally, West and South Yorkshire have comparable risks, technologies and suppliers, which means there are similar demands in terms of time pressures for replacement, configuration and staff training," he said.

Mr Beckley said the new system would save about £400,000 a year, at a time when both fire authorities faced "significant financial pressures".