About the team at Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service

Our chief fire officer is Justin Johnston QFSM (Queen's Fire Service Medal). Justin is supported by fellow principal officers Deputy Chief Fire Officer Steve Healey and Assistant Fire Officer Jon Charters. Our directors include Director of People and Development Bon Warren and Director of Corporate Services Steven Brown.

Heads of departments sit under each principal officer and director in our leadership framework, allowing us to run an effective service that makes Lancashire safer.

Justin Johnston QFSM
Chief Fire Officer

Justin was appointed as the chief fire officer for Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) in May 2019 and has responsibility for the leadership of the service together with providing direction and improvement.

He advises the Combined Fire Authority on all matters to ensure that the service continues to meet its statutory obligations through reducing risk, providing effective operational response and resilience, whilst providing value for money.

Justin is a Fellow of the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) and longstanding member of the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC), of which he was appointed vice-chair in April 2021.


Steve Healey
Deputy Chief Fire Officer

Steve joined Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service as the deputy chief fire officer in January 2021. Previously, Steve served for 24 years in Cumbria, progressing to chief fire officer before taking up his new post in Lancashire.

As the deputy chief fire officer and director of strategy and planning, Steve is responsible for the strategic leadership and management of service and he is the deputy chair of the Lancashire Resilience Forum.

Steve is a Member of the Institute of Fire Engineers (IFE), and the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) where he is the national lead Officer for working patterns. He has a Masters degree in management.

In his free time, Steve enjoys all sports, particularly rugby.


Jon Charters
Assistant Chief Fire Officer

Jon joined Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service as a recruit firefighter in 1999. He has worked in operational roles across the county and a number of functional roles within Service Headquarters before becoming Assistant Chief Fire Officer in February 2022.

As Director of Service Delivery, Jon is responsible for the strategic leadership and management of the service and is an active member of NFCC workstreams.

Jon is a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute, has a degree in Fire and Leadership and a Masters degree in Professional Practice (Senior Leadership).

In his free time, Jon enjoys family time and many outdoor activities.


Bob Warren
Director of People and Development

Bob joined Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service in 2002 and is the Service’s Director of People and Development. His responsibilities includes all aspects of an employee’s career from recruitment, promotion, through to leaving the Service. His role also incorporates responsibility for the Occupational Health Unit. Bob is an advisor to the National Joint Council for Firefighters.

His previous roles before joining the Service were primarily in the Rail Industry and encompassed the full spectrum of human resources activity having commenced employment as a paybill clerk and finishing within British Rail with responsibility for the Employee Relations of 35,000 staff within the engineering sector. On privatisation he became Director of Human Resources for the North West Rail franchise, before moving to a similar role in a further and higher education establishment in Poole.

He moved back to his adopted North West in 2001 with a role at Manchester City Council.


Steven Brown
Director of Corporate Services/Treasurer/Section 151 Officer

Steven joined Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service as the director of corporate services in April 2023.

Steven’s previous roles included interim chief executive and director of financial resources at Copeland Borough Council, senior finance officer at Cumbria County Council and manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers.

As the director of corporate services, Steven fulfils the statutory role as chief finance officer (S151 officer) to the Combined Fire Authority, leading and delivering the financial requirements of the Authority to ensure long term financial sustainability. Steven’s role incorporates responsibility for corporate services incorporating finance, procurement, property and administration.

Steven is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.

In his free time Steven enjoys family time with his two children, watching his son Ben play football and his daughter Ella ballet dancing.