Upon dialling 999 you are connected to the operator who will then ask you which service you require. The operator will then transfer you to the appropriate service, in this case the Fire Service. The operator then informs the Fire Service Control of the number from which you have dialled, this is useful in case something happens to the caller mid way through the call or the caller is cut off. Fire Service Control will then ask information regarding the incident you are calling about eg.

1. Address of the incident.
2. The nature of the incident.
3. Whether fire is involved.
4. Is there any persons involved.
5. Your name.

This list is not in any particular order and other questions may be asked, dependant upon the nature of the call. All this information is being typed at high speed to enable the computer at control to relay the information to the printer at which ever station is being mobilised to the incident.
The computer at control then works out from the address and the nature of the incident where the nearest appliances are to the incident and what type of appliances are required, this is known as the PDA or Pre Determined Attendance. The computer knows were every appliance is, whether it is mobile available or on its Station or whether it is tied up on another incident. If one appliance was mobile available then the control operator would call the appliance on the radio system asking them to proceed to the incident giving them all the information they need. The information that would be given is the same that would be on the printout from the Station console.

The Turnout

If the nearest appliance to be mobilised is at the Station then the turnout system comes into operation. The control staff operate the turnout which turns all the lights at the Station on, the alarm siren sounds and the printer prints out the message with all the details of the incident printed on it.
The printed sheet will include -:

1. The Appliances to be mobilised
2. The Address of the incident
3. The Location of the Incident
4. The Incident type
5. Further Information
6. Call Taken (time, date and incident number)
7. Callers Telephone Number
8. Map Ref
9. Premise Information