Control center network bears first fruits

Today, Monday, 27.05.2019, experts from the control centres in Thuringia met at the emergency response center in Jena to discuss the technical implications of the state report on the "Structural optimization of the central control centres in the Free State of Thuringia"in the presence of representatives of the Thuringian Ministry of the Interior and Municipal Affairs (TMIK ) and the switching center of the Thuringian Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians.

Mr. Marco Fohmann, Head of Administration of the Jena Fire Brigade, gave an introductory presentation on the developments to date of 13 control centres in Thuringia and three control centres in Eastern Thuringia to form the local control centre network. According to Mr. Fohmann, it is important that the Thuringian control centres are set up for the future. Together with Gera, Jena is planning a control center network in Eastern Thuringia, which will ensure the provision of emergency services for the districts of Greiz, Altenburger Land, Saalfeld - Rudolstadt, Saale-Orla-Kreis and Saale-Holzland-Kreis and the cities of Jena and Gera.

A first building block for ensuring the necessary redundancies is the operations control system. The systems available on the market have been examined in recent months by a joint working group of the control center network to be established. Mr. Marko Glätzer, team leader of the Jena control centre, presented the findings in detail to those present. The current command and control systems offer many advantages that can ensure future viability.

The path begun in East Thuringia has already been financially recognized by the cost bearers of the rescue service. They have also promised to provide further support in the event of further positive developments. We are now also hoping for this recognition from the TMIK, which has promised generous funding in its control center report, explains Fohmann.

A representative of the TMIK promised that a corresponding funding guideline has already been drawn up and will be discussed with the local authorities in the near future.

Peter Schörnig - head of the Jena professional fire department - hopes that the new local political bodies will continue along the same path and drive the project forward. This is the only way to ensure the safety of citizens in the long term.