Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service’s First Chief Fire Officer Returns to Service Headquarters

On Thursday, April 2^nd, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service (MAWWFRS) was delighted to welcome its first Chief Fire Officer, Ronnie King OBE QFSM, to its Service Headquarters in Carmarthen.

During his visit, Mr King met with the Service’s current Chief Fire Officer, Craig Flannery, both of whom are originally from Yorkshire, to discuss advancements in the Fire and Rescue Service, career highlights and leadership.

Mr King has had a distinguished career, which began in the Yorkshire Fire Brigade in 1961, he then moved on to serve in London, Fife and with the Home Office, before becoming the first Chief Fire Officer of the newly-formed MAWWFRS in April 1996.  MAWWFRS was formed following the merger of the three former fire brigades of Dyfed, Powys and West Glamorgan.

Mr King was awarded the Queen’s Fire Service Medal in 1984 and received an OBE in 1995 for his outstanding contribution to the Fire and Rescue sector over many years.  He has also been recognised with a Fellowship with the Institution of Fire Engineers. 

Throughout his career, Mr King has combined operational leadership with a lifelong commitment to improving fire safety legislation and governance.  Through his role as Honorary Administrative Secretary and Fire Adviser to the All-Party Parliamentary Fire Safety and Rescue Group at Westminster, Mr King has contributed to key national inquiries and policy reforms following major incidents such as the Lakanal House and Grenfell Tower fires.

30 Years of MAWWFRS

The visit formed part of a year-long campaign to celebrate 30 years of MAWWFRS.  This will not only offer an opportunity to reflect on the Service’s achievements, but to also recognise the people who have shaped its journey.

Since its formation in 1996, MAWWFRS has grown into one of the UK’s largest fire and rescue organisations, serving a wide and varied landscape, from rural villages and coastal towns to busy urban towns.

Throughout this time, our teams have responded to thousands of emergencies, championed fire safety and prevention and continually adapted to new challenges with professionalism and resilience.  Read more here.