A NEW tablet device has been fitted to fire engines across Berkshire to help provide the best service for residents.

The Royal Berkshire Fire Authority have invested into a new tablet and software, which will assist their firefighters in providing the best possible response to emergency's.

The mobile data tablets (MDTs), which are operated by Dell provide crews with vital information on the way to emergency's, such as safety data, the occupancy of the premiss and road names. The new MDTs will also send out live updates to other emergency services.

Gary Thomas, Senior Communications Technical Support Officer, who led the project, said: “The MDTs are a great development for the Service and our firefighters are already reaping the benefits.

“In the future, we see other big advantages for firefighters in being able to use the devices. This includes firefighters being given instant travel directions to an emergency from the moment of mobilisation, as well as, at a road traffic collision to identify important information about the safety features of a vehicle (such as airbags), so that they can quickly be turned off before releasing trapped passengers from the car.”

Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service are the first fire and rescue team to use the tablets.