Andy Cole Appointed as New Chief Fire Officer for Dorset and Wiltshire

The newly appointed chief fire officer for Dorset and Wiltshire has expressed his dedication to delivering the “highest quality service” to the area’s residents. Andy Cole has been named the new Chief Fire Officer, succeeding Ben Ansell, who is set to retire at the close of the year. Mr. Cole commenced his professional journey at the Castle Cary fire station in Somerset, subsequently serving as an operational firefighter across the Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole regions. Paul Oatway, who chairs the Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Authority, stated that Mr. Cole contributes “significant strategic leadership experience” to the position. Prior to this appointment, Mr. Cole held the role of the service’s director of community safety, overseeing operational response, prevention, protection, and safeguarding. He was awarded a Queen’s Fire Service Medal in the 2020 Queen’s New Years Honours list in recognition of his efforts during the Coronavirus pandemic. Mr. Cole commented that his appointment as chief fire officer was a “privilege.” He added, “I take great pride in the service we provide and the dedicated staff who work extremely hard to ensure we deliver this service to our communities and partners. “I am committed to working hard to provide the highest quality service to everyone who lives, works, or visits the beautiful counties of Dorset and Wiltshire.”” In recent years, the service has encountered difficulties, with its workplace culture being deemed insufficient after an inquiry into allegations of racist jokes, misogyny, and a lack of respect. Furthermore, financial constraints have resulted in the removal of fire engines from several stations. Readers can find BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external sites. Information regarding their approach to external linking is available.