Commissioner of the London Fire Brigade explained

Post:Commissioner of the London Fire Brigade
Insignia:File:Capture co.JPG
Insigniasize:200px
Incumbent:Andy Roe
Incumbentsince:January 2020
Department:London Fire Brigade
Reports To:-->
Residence:-->
Seat:Union Street, SE1
Appointer:The Monarch

The Commissioner of the London Fire Brigade, previously known as the Chief Fire Officer until c. 2000, is the head of the London Fire Brigade. Andy Roe has held the post since January 2020.[1]

The rank is usually referred to as the London Fire Brigade Commissioner, the LFB Commissioner or simply "Commissioner".

Current Commissioner

Since January 2020, Andy Roe has held the role of Commissioner of the London Fire Brigade; he previously served as Deputy Commissioner.

Before joining the London Fire Brigade in 2002 as a firefighter,[2] he served as an officer in the British Army.[3]

Andy Roe was also operational commander during the Grenfell Tower Fire. He revoked the controversial "stay put" policy set by the previous LFB Commissioner Dany Cotton.[4]

List of London Fire Brigade chief officers and commissioners

FromToMilitary rank
(if applicable)
NameNotes
18331861James BraidwoodFirst director of the London Fire Engine Establishment (which later became the London Fire Brigade).
18611891CaptainEyre Massey ShawFirst Chief Officer of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade.
18911896James Sexton Simmonds
18961903Captain (RN)Lionel de Lautour Wells
19031909Rear AdmiralJames de Courcy Hamilton
19091918Lieutenant CommanderSir Sampson Sladen
19181933Arthur Reginald Dyer
19331938MajorCyril MorrisOnly LFB chief officer to have been awarded the Military Cross
19381941CommanderSir Aylmer FirebraceThe first and only person to head firefighting across the whole of Great Britain.
19481962Sir Frederick DelveFirst chief officer after the end of Fire Brigade nationalisation
19621970Leslie Leete
19701976Joseph MilnerDirector of the Hong Kong Fire Services from 1961–1970 before his appointment to the London Fire Brigade
19761980Peter Darby
19801987Ronald Bullers
19871991Gerald Clarkson
19912003Brian Robinson
20032007Sir Ken Knight
20072016Ron Dobson
20162019Dany CottonFirst woman commissioner. Retired earlier than planned due to criticism of LFB handling of fire at Grenfell Tower.
2019PresentCaptainAndy Roe

Notes and References

  1. Web site: New fire chief appointed after Grenfell row. 10 December 2019. www.bbc.co.uk.
  2. Web site: Mayor appoints new London Fire Commissioner. 10 December 2019. London City Hall.
  3. Web site: Former Army Officer Becomes New London Fire Chief. 11 December 2019. at 2:28pm. Forces Network.
  4. Web site: Grenfell firefighter who revoked 'stay put' policy made LFB chief. 10 December 2019. the Guardian.