Image:Helsinki fire truck H10.jpg

A modern Sisu / Saurus command centre (johtokeskus) fire engine of the City of Helsinki Rescue Department [1] in front of the central rescue station in Kallio, in Helsinki, Finland.

This vehice is apparently used in cases of bigger disasters as a command / coordination centre. It is equipped with modern telecommunications facilities etc. with an aim for efficient co-operatation between different authorities during emergencies.

Taken by me, Jonik, in June, 2004.

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The H10 stands for H = Helsinki, 1 = station number (= central or 1st station) and 0 = a command unit.

The weight of the unit is less than 20 tons giving a possibility to reach even some terrain roads with weight limitations.

The driver can use a vehicle-mounted computer system with a satellite positioning system, digital maps and navigation programs.

On the roof, pneumatic masts contain a compact weather station, additional antennas, video cameras and a thermographic camera. The vehicle has an aggregator of its own and naturally a possibility to connect to external power outlets.

The command room is extendable; the command cabin actually is built of two modules, one inside the other. The right-side wall of the vehicle can be moved hydraulically approx. 1.5 meters outwards giving almost 30 square meters (almost 325 square feet) of warm space with tables and tools for more than dozen people. The space can be divided into smaller parts with curtains.

Management applications give the commanders a possibility to get various kind of information on computer screens – or on a major screen: a fire management application, checklists, real-time locations of rescue units, their dispatch and status information, various maps, site cards*, locations of fire hydrants, tv channels, video picture from the scene etc. In addition, printers and a colour copying machine are available.

Some space is reserved for a communications centre. The communication system of the unit includes phones for two encrypted TETRA-networks available in the Helsinki area, a telefax, a WLAN server and a WLAN network, GSM phones, a VHF-radio, an aviation frequency radio, a satellite telephone, and internet services with email through various routes.

The unit was taken into operative duty in 2004. So far it has been used as a mobile command centre in major and/or long lasting fires and accidents. It has been used in some scenes and events lasting for days - or even for weeks. The unit was planned to give the basis for the command post also when the management of a scene requires cooperation of various kind of authorities and specialists - like fire, police, medical, civil engineers, industrial specialists, representatives of municipalities etc. The unit has even small kitchen facilities in it.

• A site card contains information on a building equipped with a fire alarm system: a generalized map of the building, gas pipelines, water and gas valves, fire alarm and sprinkler systems, smoke ventilation systems, electricity, special risks etc. This kind of information is nowadays becoming more and more digitalized and used in various 3D-applications and fire management applications, connected to various kind of geographical information systems.