ORH launches OARS to help fire and rescue services tackle on-call challenges

At the recent National Fire Chiefs Council On-call Conference, ORH proudly introduced OARS – our new software application designed to optimise On-call Availability, Recruitment, and Skills utilisation. Developed in partnership with re-enkindle, OARS is the result of four years’ research into factors that make a measurable impact on on-call fire engine availability, including understanding expected availability and incident demand.


OARS enables fire and rescue services to use data more effectively to address critical challenges in recruitment, diversity, and workforce planning, particularly in the light of shortages of emergency response drivers and incident commanders, and a growing recruitment and retention crisis.
We’re very grateful to the National Fire Chiefs Council for giving us the opportunity to present this innovative solution to fire and rescue leaders across the UK, and to Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service in particular for supporting the inaugural project.


OARS is used by strategic managers within fire and rescue services, and utilises data, analysis and modelling to provide actionable insights for strategic decision-making. It is already actively helping UK fire and rescue services to improve recruitment, workforce diversity planning and resource management.


Listen here to the co-chairs of the NFCC On-Call Steering Group discuss OARS towards the end of this podcast:
In conversation with DCFO Steve Healey and ACFO Andy Cole – Priority Message | Podcast on Spotify

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