We are not a scandal-ridden service - fire chief

The head of West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS) has responded angrily to a report in a national newspaper which called the organisation "scandal-ridden".

Oliver Lee, who became chief executive of WMFS in March, told a news conference he "objected to" a report in The Sun newspaper which had made the comment.

"I don't accept that it's 'scandal-ridden' and nor will it be during my tenure here," he said.

Mr Lee was speaking after the death of a former employee at Oldbury fire station on Monday. It followed the death of the service's previous chief Wayne Brown, who was found at his home in January. Neither is being treated as suspicious.

The news conference at the WMFS headquarters in Birmingham was called following the death of Ian Revell at Oldbury fire station early on Monday.

“Whilst the circumstances are not being treated as suspicious, we will be working closely with West Midlands Police as they establish the full circumstances," WMFS said.

Mr Lee told reporters Mr Revell's death followed the deaths of five other people in the service over the past 10 weeks.

He said while it had been an "enormous privilege" to lead WMFS over the past four months it had been a very difficult time.

"Through that time we have been beset by considerable sadness and tragedy," he said.

An inquest has been opened into the death of Wayne Brown, who Mr Lee said he would have liked to have met

He said his own appointment had followed the "unutterable tragedy" of the death of the former chief officer Wayne Brown.

"Sadly, because of the circumstances I never met Wayne and I greatly wish that I had," he stated.

Mr Lee added an inquest into Mr Brown's death was ongoing.

The WMFS head, flanked by his deputy Simon Barry, praised the fire service and said over the past four months its work had included responding to 7,000 emergency calls as well as thousands of "safe and well" calls to protect vulnerable people.

He said this was a "remarkable accolade" to its employees.

"The organisation has been of course grieving, but also unflinching in pursuit of what it does every day," he said.

He said it was not "scandal-ridden" and worked hard to protect three million people.

"This organisation is a responsible, uniformed, emergency public service paid for by public money and every day it does its level best to protect the people of the West Midlands," he said.

The service said in a statement following Mr Revell's death, its thoughts were with "everyone affected by the awful news", including his loved ones and colleagues.

"We will ensure they have all possible support," it said.

“Flags have been lowered to half-mast across our sites as a mark of respect.”