New chief for SRFS

Martin is currently deputy chief officer of South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue, and will take up his new role in early 2019.

Martin brings over 26 years’ fire service experience, previously having held a number of operational roles with Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Services, before joining South Yorkshire in 2015 rising to the position of Deputy Chief Officer in 2017.

The process to identify a new chief officer began earlier this year following the announcement of the current chief officer Alasdair Hay’s intention to retire in March 2019 - following over six years leading the country’s first ever national Service, and a total of 36 years’ firefighting experience.

Kirsty Darwent is chair of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Board.

She said, “I am pleased to announce that we have appointed a new Chief Officer who will bring his wealth of experience in both operations and effective organisational leadership.

“Martin will join SFRS as we move towards delivery of transformation, designed to enable the Service to do so much more for the people of Scotland.”

Ash Denham, minister for community safety and legal affairs said: “Following a robust recruitment and selection process by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, I was pleased to approve the appointment of Martin Blunden as the new SFRS chief officer.

“Martin has demonstrated that he has the right qualities to lead SFRS in delivering a transformed service which will do more to keep our communities safe. I look forward to working with Martin when he takes up his position in 2019.”