Deputy Chief Fire Officer Dave Russel has today been appointed as Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service’s new Chief Fire Officer. Dave will leave his role in Lancashire at the beginning of September.
Dave has nearly 29 years of service at Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service and has worked across the county in various roles. He has held the post of Deputy Chief Fire Officer since May 2019 where he is responsible for all aspects of service delivery, training and operational review, and mobilising.
Dave was Incident Commander at the Winter Hill moorland fire two years ago, and more recently, he has led Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dave said of his appointment: “I would like to thank everyone connected with Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service. The Service has been a huge part of my life having worked here for the past 28 years. It is a fantastic organisation, full of dedicated people who are proud of the part they play in making Lancashire safer. I wish the Service and its staff all the very best for the future.
“It is an honour and a privilege to be offered this opportunity to lead the fire and rescue service in Greater Manchester. My priority is to protect and serve the people of Greater Manchester and make sure the fire and rescue service is the very best it can be. I look forward immensely to joining, meeting the staff and working with them to shape the future of the Service when I take up my role in the autumn.”
Justin Johnston, Chief Fire Officer, said: “Dave has been an excellent officer of Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service and has been a massive support to me personally as chief fire officer. He’s been instrumental in achieving the highest standards of operational response and service delivery in our communities, something we pride ourselves on and which has more recently been recognised nationally. Whilst I am disappointed to lose Dave, I am naturally delighted that one of our own has been successful in becoming the chief fire officer for Greater Manchester, where I am certain he will make a genuine and lasting difference.”
Cllr Frank De Molfetta, Chair of the Lancashire Combined Fire Authority, added: “Dave is a loyal and long-serving officer of Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service and I will be very sorry to see him go. He has made a fantastic contribution over the years and been an excellent ambassador for the Service. I wish him well in his well-deserved new venture as chief fire officer of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service.”
Dave will be missed by all in the service and we wish him all the best in his future role.
The service has now gone out to advert to find Dave’s replacement and more information is available on our website.