Mark Jones, who is Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service's new Chief Fire Officer

15 December 2009

Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service will welcome in the new year with a new leader at the helm.

Mark Jones will join the service as Chief Fire Officer and Chief Executive on 1 January 2010 following his appointment earlier this year. He joins from Essex County Fire & Rescue Service where he is Deputy Chief Fire Officer.

Mark joined Grampian Fire Brigade in 1985 and served in a variety of command roles. He enjoyed a two-year secondment to the Scottish Government in which he took responsibility for training, human resources, equality and health and safety. In performing that role, he undertook audits of fire services and forged good working partnerships with Audit Scotland, Health and Safety Executive and Commission for Racial Equality.

On his return to Grampian, he advanced through the service to the level of Assistant Chief Fire Officer before moving to Essex as Deputy Chief Fire Officer in September 2005. He has undertaken policy development work at both national and international level within the EU and beyond. He holds a Masters Degree in management.

Giving his first impressions of his new command, Mark said: “Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service has a great tradition of delivering high quality safety services to the people we serve. I already see dedicated staff, working hard to maintain that position and I would pay tribute to my predecessors, particularly the current Interim Chief Fire Officer, Bill Feeley.  

“Looking forward, all publicly funded services in England are likely to face severe funding challenges in future years and I know that the fire service will have to ‘cut its cloth’ in making sure we are able continue to deliver high quality safety services.

“The members of Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes Fire Authority have shown me their desire for significant improvement in the way we manage the service, whilst at the same time keeping up the high standard of safety services that we deliver.

“The experience and knowledge that I have gained in Essex, especially in terms of managing resources, will serve me well as funding pressures grow. My main emphasis will continue to be to ensure that public safety remains as high as ever whilst seeking to lower costs. I will am also keen to ensure that high quality professional governance is established under my guidance.

“My wife and I have already found a new home in Milton Keynes and are very much looking forward to living in this vibrant and rapidly developing area. I sincerely hope to spend the rest of my fire service career working here in Buckinghamshire.”

On behalf of Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes Fire Authority, Chairman Councillor David Rowlands said: “We welcome Mark’s appointment and we are looking forward to working with him closely over the coming months and years.”

Mark is looking forward to taking up his new command on 1 January 2010.

Click HERE to view the press release issued in September regarding Mark’s appointment