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Fire service gets smarter maps

How Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service deployed Blue Light Maps.

In numbers

40
Specialist vehicles deployed to
1.45 million
Residents covered
2
Live data overlay types
OS
Base map building data
DG
Daniel Grew
OPERATIONAL TECHNOLOGY MANAGER · DORSET & WILTSHIRE FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE

"It has made a positive difference in reaching incidents more quickly and effectively."

The Challenge

Every second counts on the way to an incident. With increased use of fire coverage tools, crews are often rotated to cover areas they don’t know well.

That means they not only need the fastest blue light route – they also need access to vital information like hydrant locations and risk data.

Traditionally, getting up-to-date data into the hands of frontline firefighters has been slow and expensive.

The Solution

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service has deployed Blue Light Maps to the existing in-vehicle tablets of all frontline fire appliances.

Through a simple data admin panel, the team can upload fire hydrant and risk data in their existing formats.

It’s then immediately made available to all frontline crews as an overlay to the base map, alongside comprehensive building data from Ordnance Survey.

Hydrant and risk-data overlays shown on the base map in Blue Light Maps

The Impact

Daniel Grew, Operational Communications Technology Manager, explained how the app helps:

What’s next?

Dorset & Wiltshire are now exploring opportunities to further expand the use of the Blue Light Maps solution, by also providing access to all responding officers — ensuring every responder benefits from smarter routing, critical data overlays, and improved situational awareness.

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Summary

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service has implemented Blue Light Maps on their frontline fire appliances to improve incident response. The system provides real-time data overlays, including hydrant locations and risk data, directly to in-vehicle tablets. This solution aims to make reaching incidents quicker and more effective, with plans to expand access to all responding officers.

Key Facts

Frequently Asked Questions

What difference has Blue Light Maps made for Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service?

It has made a positive difference in reaching incidents more quickly and effectively.

What was the challenge faced by Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service?

Traditionally, getting up-to-date data into the hands of frontline firefighters has been slow and expensive, and crews often need to cover areas they don't know well, requiring fast routes and vital information like hydrant locations and risk data.

How was the Blue Light Maps solution implemented?

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service deployed Blue Light Maps to the existing in-vehicle tablets of all frontline fire appliances, allowing for immediate availability of fire hydrant and risk data as an overlay to the base map.

What are the future plans for Blue Light Maps at Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service?

Dorset & Wiltshire are now exploring opportunities to further expand the use of the Blue Light Maps solution by providing access to all responding officers.

Related Entities

People
Daniel Grew
Companies
Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, Blue Light Maps, Ordnance Survey
Products
Blue Light Maps
Locations
Dorset, Wiltshire, London, UK
Technologies
fire coverage tools, in-vehicle tablets, data admin panel, base map, live data overlay