Video link to enhance civil defence

DUBAI // A desktop video device will enhance communications and speed up decision-making among civil defence branches, officials said yesterday.

Dubai Civil Defence is to introduce the Avaya Flare Experience at its Dubai headquarters and 15 centres across the emirate, allowing the heads of each branch to interact with headquarters and one another more easily.

The device integrates social media, calendars and e-mail on a touchscreen device. It can connect to desk phones and video, and will operate over a secure network.

The equipment would be rolled out in the first quarter of this year, said Maj Gen Rashid Thani al Matrooshi, the commander in chief of civil defence.

"Face-to-face interaction enabled by the Avaya desktop video device will enhance control in crisis situations and eliminate unnecessary travel between centres for briefings and other updates," he said.

Maj Ali Hassan al Mutawa, the director of the Operations Department at Dubai Civil Defence, said the service's average response time was six to eight minutes, but that planned additional fire stations would improve on that.

"We aim to have 20 additional fire stations by 2015 in different areas, some of which are Al Mezhar, Jebel Ali Free Zone and Khawaneej," he said.

balqabbani@thenational.ae