Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service Newsdesk

at 19/11/2004 16:49

The Chief Fire Officer of Cornwall County Fire Brigade, Mick Howell, has officially announced his retirement this week, after six years of leadership. He will retire with effect from 31st March 2005.

Mick Howell has been at the helm of Cornwall County Fire Brigade through a number of significant changes and improvements to the service it provides. Most notably is the rebuilding and renovation of the 31 fire stations under a government funded private finance initiative (PFI) and the creation of Cornwall’s ‘Community Fire Stations’.

Mick has also put community safety at the forefront of the brigade’s operations with the introduction of new initiatives to raise fire safety awareness across the county. The brigade has three full time schools advisors and firefighters carrying out free home safety checks and installing smoke alarms in domestic properties. There are also a number of projects involving young people; the Phoenix Project, the Fire Cadet Scheme, Duke of Edinburgh and FACE (Fire Awareness Child Education).

Mick Howell commented: “It has been a real privilege to have been the Chief Fire Officer of such a professional group of people as Cornwall County Fire Brigade and Emergency Planning. I must also pay tribute to the elected members of County Council who have supported many of the initiatives that we have introduced by reinvesting in their fire brigade.

He cont: “I hope and believe that Cornwall is a safer place to live, work or visit, but there is still much to be done. There is much going on within the fire service and local and central government to improve and modernise. I think that this is an opportune time to hand over the baton to someone who can lead the brigade through this change programme, and build upon the foundations that have been put in place”

Interviews are being held later this month to appoint a successor to Mick Howell. A further announcement will be made at that time.