‘Unflinching’ commitment of WMFS staff praised by CEO

Oliver Lee, the Chief Executive Officer of West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS), has praised the ‘unflinching’ commitment of its 1,900 ‘special’ staff.

It comes as the CEO approaches four months in post, and as staff across the service mourn several colleagues who, sadly, have died in quick succession.

“I am extremely privileged to have been leading this organisation for four months, and I am humbled daily by what its 1,900 people achieve.

“In those four months, we’ve responded to 7,000 emergency calls, a thousand of which involved people who needed immediate first aid. The fact that most of those calls saw us get ‘boots on the ground’ in under five minutes is extraordinary. I didn’t do that, that was the quality of the organisation prior to my arrival.

“In the same period, our staff have conducted 4,000 ‘Safe and Well’, each of which helps a vulnerable person or household to live more safely.

“We have been beset by considerable loss and tragedy in recent weeks. Yet, in spite of their grief, amazing people across this special service continue to deliver, irrespective of their rank or role.

“There is no doubt that recent months have been hard for the service to bear. But its people have done so with remarkable resilience and professionalism.

“I have one job – to move this organisation into the future. I can only do this with 1,900 people who truly feel that they are part of one team, which includes giving mental health support to those in need.

“I want those 1,900 to look out for, support and deeply care for everyone with whom they work. Our strength lies in our people, and all else flows from that.”