UPDATED 12:16*
ALMOST £1 million in government grant has been given to the Isle of Wight to help improve the fire and rescue service.
The cash will be used to create two high-tech incident command centres in Newport and Ryde, and provide fire crews with the latest Toughbook mobile information systems.
The grant will also finance the council’s transfer of its control room to Surrey, which is due to happen on Sunday.
Chief fire officer, Steve Apter, explained the technology in the new incident command centres could include screens linked to the Island’s CCTV network that could relay images of actual emergencies as they unfolded.
Individual fire appliances could also be tracked and diverted to incidents as they happened if their location was nearest to that emergency.
Mr Apter said: "We can focus on using technology to enhance our service, which not only supports our operational response activities in command, control and communications but, just as importantly, in our community safety and preventative work through improving our ability to target our resources better."
The money follows a successful joint bid with Surrey Fire and Rescue Service to the Department of Communities and Local Government. A total of £3 million was secured from government, with around £1 million for the Island.
Cllr Barry Abraham, cabinet member responsible for the Island’s fire and rescue service, said: "Quite simply, we would not have been awarded this money if we were not able to prove we are willing and able to modernise.
"The investment is government recognition the service is being well run, effectively and efficiently from the Island for the Island."
Reporter: martinn@iwcpmail.co.uk