Chief Fire Officer
Encyclopedia
A Chief Fire Officer or CFO is the highest ranking Officer in the UK Fire & Rescue Service. There are currently 59 Chief Fire Officers serving in the United Kingdom in charge of County (or Local Authority) Fire Services.
There is also a Chief Fire Officer responsible for the Ministry of Defence Fire Services which includes the Defence Fire and Rescue Service
and the RAF Fire Service.
Some UK Airport Fire Services also designate their seniors officers as CFOs. However, such officers rarely wear the rank markings of a Chief Fire Officer for many reasons.
In Scotland
CFO's were traditionally referred to as Firemaster, although this title was replaced by Chief Fire Officer in Scottish brigades in 2006 when the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 came into force.
The rank is of equivalent stature to that of Chief Constable
within the British Police Force, and Chief Ambulance Officer
in the UK Ambulance Service
Under proposed changes Chief Fire Officers were to be renamed Brigade Managers in line with modernisation directives issued by the Department for Communities and Local Government. However the title is unpopular and has so far not been used.
Other titles for this office can include 'County Fire Officer' and 'Chief Executive', neither of which are in common use. Greater Manchester FRS however use the title 'County Fire Officer and Chief Executive'. In the London Fire Brigade
, the CFO is known as Commissioner for Fire and Emergency Planning - the post is currently held by Ron Dobson
, he is referred to as Commissioner Ron Dobson. Chief Fire Officers in the UK are represented by the Chief Fire Officers Association, it has a separate section representing principal officers in fire and rescue services in Scotland.
CFOs do occasionally attend major incidents, in December 2005, the CFO of Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, Roy Wilsher, spent a great deal of time at the Buncefield oil storage depot. He also hosted press conferences and was part of the major incident gold command
team.
The use of the title 'Chief Executive' or "Brigade Manager" is deprecated by some firefighters who believe that it creates the false impression that the post is a non-uniformed civilian role. Although the title has been adopted to reflect the modern "business approach" of many fire brigades, almost all Chief Fire Officers have progressed from frontline roles through the rank structure
A few brigades have employed civilian Chief Fire Officers. They are given the title Chief Executive to denote that they are not operationally trained firefighter
s
to whom the CFO reports. The Fire Authority is a committee of locally elected councilors. The committee's prime responsibility is to ensure that the fire service is run properly and responsibly. In simple terms the Chief Officer is directly answerable to someone who represents the interests of the general public. The collective voice for CFOs on policy, planning and strategy in the UK is CFOA Chief Fire Officers Association, previously known as CACFOA (Chief and Assistant Chief Fire Officers Association).
. The rank of appointment is known as HMFSI - separate arrangements exist in Scotland. Her Majesty's Inspectors are uniformed and seen to be superior to that of a Chief Fire Officer, however they have no power to directly command front line fire crews.
In 2007, the role of HMFSI was replaced by the office of the Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser
whose responsibilities extend to England and Wales. The Chief Fire & Rescue Advisor also retains the title as the dejure and defacto HM Chief Inspector of Fire Services The role of HMFSI Scotland, will continue its role and functions.
A Chief Fire Officer is assisted by one Deputy Chief Fire Officer and a number of Assistant Chief Fire Officers— each of whom will be delegated with commanding one or multiple areas of fire and rescue operations such as training, vehicles and equipment, information technology or human resources.
commands a single fire district. This may be a volunteer fire brigade, with a single fire station, in an outer-urban or rural area, or it may consist of several fire stations in a metropolitan area, staffed by career fire fighters. Auckland and Wellington, with their geographic sprawl, have their career stations divided into multiple districts - two in Wellington (Wellington City, which includes Porirua
, and Hutt), and five in Auckland (Auckland City Central, Auckland City East, North Shore
, Waitakere (west), and Manukau (south)). The other 14 cities in New Zealand
that have career fire fighters are sufficiently compact geographically to allow each one to be a single fire district.
There is also a Chief Fire Officer responsible for the Ministry of Defence Fire Services which includes the Defence Fire and Rescue Service
Defence Fire and Rescue Service
The Defence Fire and Rescue Service is the primary firefighting and rescue service protecting British defence estates and property. Along with the Royal Air Force Rescue and Firefighting Service it forms the Ministry of Defence Fire Services.-History:...
and the RAF Fire Service.
Some UK Airport Fire Services also designate their seniors officers as CFOs. However, such officers rarely wear the rank markings of a Chief Fire Officer for many reasons.
In Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
CFO's were traditionally referred to as Firemaster, although this title was replaced by Chief Fire Officer in Scottish brigades in 2006 when the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 came into force.
The rank is of equivalent stature to that of Chief Constable
Chief Constable
Chief constable is the rank used by the chief police officer of every territorial police force in the United Kingdom except for the City of London Police and the Metropolitan Police, as well as the chief officers of the three 'special' national police forces, the British Transport Police, Ministry...
within the British Police Force, and Chief Ambulance Officer
Chief Ambulance Officer
In the United Kingdom a Chief Ambulance Officer is the highest ranking, medically qualified officer within a public NHS Trust Ambulance Service or private Ambulance Service....
in the UK Ambulance Service
Under proposed changes Chief Fire Officers were to be renamed Brigade Managers in line with modernisation directives issued by the Department for Communities and Local Government. However the title is unpopular and has so far not been used.
Other titles for this office can include 'County Fire Officer' and 'Chief Executive', neither of which are in common use. Greater Manchester FRS however use the title 'County Fire Officer and Chief Executive'. In the London Fire Brigade
London Fire Brigade
The London Fire Brigade is the statutory fire and rescue service for London.Founded in 1865, it is the largest of the fire services in the United Kingdom and the fourth-largest in the world with nearly 7,000 staff, including 5,800 operational firefighters based in 112 fire...
, the CFO is known as Commissioner for Fire and Emergency Planning - the post is currently held by Ron Dobson
Ron Dobson
Ronald James Dobson CBE QFSM is the Commissioner for Fire and Emergency Planning at the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, which includes the role of Chief Fire Officer of the London Fire Brigade,...
, he is referred to as Commissioner Ron Dobson. Chief Fire Officers in the UK are represented by the Chief Fire Officers Association, it has a separate section representing principal officers in fire and rescue services in Scotland.
A change of title
The name of the rank is being changed by some UK fire services to 'Brigade Manager' as part of an on-going modernisation of the fire service in the UK; however, the title is largely unpopular with most Chief Fire Officers who prefer to retain their traditional titles.CFOs do occasionally attend major incidents, in December 2005, the CFO of Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, Roy Wilsher, spent a great deal of time at the Buncefield oil storage depot. He also hosted press conferences and was part of the major incident gold command
Gold Silver Bronze command structure
A gold–silver–bronze command structure is used by emergency services of the United Kingdom to establish a hierarchical framework for the command and control of major incidents and disasters...
team.
The use of the title 'Chief Executive' or "Brigade Manager" is deprecated by some firefighters who believe that it creates the false impression that the post is a non-uniformed civilian role. Although the title has been adopted to reflect the modern "business approach" of many fire brigades, almost all Chief Fire Officers have progressed from frontline roles through the rank structure
A few brigades have employed civilian Chief Fire Officers. They are given the title Chief Executive to denote that they are not operationally trained firefighter
Firefighter
Firefighters are rescuers extensively trained primarily to put out hazardous fires that threaten civilian populations and property, to rescue people from car incidents, collapsed and burning buildings and other such situations...
s
Responsibilities
A CFO is responsible for the day-to-day command of the fire service in all areas. Ultimately however major policies and procedures have to be agreed and passed by the Fire authorityFire Authority
In England and Wales a fire authority or fire and rescue authority is a statutory body made up of a committee of local councillors which oversees the policy and service delivery of a fire and rescue service...
to whom the CFO reports. The Fire Authority is a committee of locally elected councilors. The committee's prime responsibility is to ensure that the fire service is run properly and responsibly. In simple terms the Chief Officer is directly answerable to someone who represents the interests of the general public. The collective voice for CFOs on policy, planning and strategy in the UK is CFOA Chief Fire Officers Association, previously known as CACFOA (Chief and Assistant Chief Fire Officers Association).
Her Majesty's Fire Service Inspectorate
Historically, many CFOs went on to join Her Majesty's Fire Service Inspectorate, or HMFSI. It used to be known as Her Majest'y Inspector of Fire Services and was a government agency directly under the control of the Department for Communities and Local GovernmentDepartment for Communities and Local Government
The Department for Communities and Local Government is the UK Government department for communities and local government in England. It was established in May 2006 and is the successor to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, established in 2001...
. The rank of appointment is known as HMFSI - separate arrangements exist in Scotland. Her Majesty's Inspectors are uniformed and seen to be superior to that of a Chief Fire Officer, however they have no power to directly command front line fire crews.
In 2007, the role of HMFSI was replaced by the office of the Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser
Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser
Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Fire Services for England and Wales, is responsible for the inspection and auditing of all Local Authority Fire Services in England and Wales to ensure they meet strict performance criteria and targets laid out by the Government ....
whose responsibilities extend to England and Wales. The Chief Fire & Rescue Advisor also retains the title as the dejure and defacto HM Chief Inspector of Fire Services The role of HMFSI Scotland, will continue its role and functions.
A Chief Fire Officer is assisted by one Deputy Chief Fire Officer and a number of Assistant Chief Fire Officers— each of whom will be delegated with commanding one or multiple areas of fire and rescue operations such as training, vehicles and equipment, information technology or human resources.
New Zealand
According to the New Zealand Fire Service Act 1975, a Chief Fire Officer in the New Zealand Fire ServiceNew Zealand Fire Service
The New Zealand Fire Service is New Zealand's national fire fighting body. While its founding legislation, the Fire Service Act 1975, only provides for this role, the organisation has assumed responsibility for several other areas.-Strategic Direction:The New Zealand Fire Service has defined for...
commands a single fire district. This may be a volunteer fire brigade, with a single fire station, in an outer-urban or rural area, or it may consist of several fire stations in a metropolitan area, staffed by career fire fighters. Auckland and Wellington, with their geographic sprawl, have their career stations divided into multiple districts - two in Wellington (Wellington City, which includes Porirua
Porirua
Porirua is a city in the Wellington Region of New Zealand, immediately north of the city of Wellington, with their central business districts 20 km apart. A large proportion of the population commutes to Wellington, so it may be considered a satellite city. It almost completely surrounds...
, and Hutt), and five in Auckland (Auckland City Central, Auckland City East, North Shore
North Shore, New Zealand
North Shore City was the name of a city that existed in the Auckland region of New Zealand from 1989 until 2010. The city had a population of making it the fourth most populous city in New Zealand prior to November 2010...
, Waitakere (west), and Manukau (south)). The other 14 cities in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
that have career fire fighters are sufficiently compact geographically to allow each one to be a single fire district.
See also
- Chief Fire Officers Association
- Fire Service in the UK
- Fire Master
- Chief Fire and Rescue AdviserChief Fire and Rescue AdviserHer Majesty's Chief Inspector of Fire Services for England and Wales, is responsible for the inspection and auditing of all Local Authority Fire Services in England and Wales to ensure they meet strict performance criteria and targets laid out by the Government ....
- Her Majesty's Fire Service Inspectorate for ScotlandHer Majesty's Fire Service Inspectorate for ScotlandHer Majesty's Fire Service Inspectorate for Scotland or HM Fire Service Inspectorate is an autonomous agency of the Scottish Government - based in St Andrew's House, Edinburgh, its function is to: "improve the efficiency, effectiveness and standards of the fire and rescue services in Scotland", it...