Fire chief to retire after nearly 30 years

Staffordshire's chief fire officer Rob Barber says he will retire next year after 29 years as a firefighter

Staffordshire's chief fire officer has announced he is to retire after almost 30 years as a firefighter, including more than four years in the top job.

Rob Barber announced his decision in an internal memo to staff, which has been seen by the BBC.

"The commissioner [Ben Adams]'s office will be co-ordinating the recruitment process to find a new chief fire officer," the note said.

"We expect the successful candidate to be announced at some point in the new year."

He added: "In the meantime though it's business as usual and my commitment to the role will continue until the day I leave, which is expected to be late April."

He took over from former chief fire officer Becci Bryant in October 2021.

Mr Barber had also previously served as the service's deputy chief as well as serving throughout the county in operational roles.

PFCC Mr Adams confirmed he was now looking to recruit a new chief "who has Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent foremost in their thinking" to "continue to modernise and improve Staffordshire Fire & Rescue Service".

He added he hoped to be in a position to announce the successful candidate early next year.