Chief Fire Officer

Chief fire officer (CFO), formerly often just chief officer, is the highest rank in British fire and rescue services. 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 same rank insignia as a local authority chief fire officer.

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 British police forces, and chief ambulance officer in British ambulance services.

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 Fire and Rescue Service does, however, use the title of county fire officer and chief executive'. In the London Fire Brigade, the CFO is now known as the commissioner for fire and emergency planning (the post is currently held by Ron Dobson). Chief fire officers in the United Kingdom are represented by the Chief Fire Officers Association; it has a separate section representing principal officers in fire and rescue services in Scotland.

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