Commissioner of the London Fire Brigade
Commissioner of the London Fire Brigade | |
---|---|
Incumbent since May 2025Jonathan Smith | |
London Fire Brigade | |
Seat | Union Street, SE1 |
Appointer | The Monarch |
The Commissioner of the London Fire Brigade, previously known as the Chief Fire Officer until c. 2000, is the head of the London Fire Brigade. Jonathan Smith has held the post since May 2025.[1]
The rank is usually referred to as the London Fire Brigade Commissioner, the LFB Commissioner or simply "Commissioner".
Current Commissioner
Jonathan Smith was appointed as the Commissioner for the London Fire Brigade in May 2025, following confirmation by the London Assembly’s Fire Committee. He succeeded Andy Roe, who retired after more than two decades of service with the Brigade.[2]
Smith began his firefighting career in 2000 with Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service at Norwich City Fire Station. He later moved to Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service in 2008, where he progressed through a series of senior roles. In 2019, he joined London Fire Brigade as an Assistant Commissioner, initially focusing on reforming procedures within Brigade Control, particularly in response to the Grenfell Tower Fire and the recommendations from the subsequent inquiry.[1][2]
Smith has managed responses to several significant incidents, notably the New Providence Wharf fire in 2021, and acted as the senior operational commander during major events including the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II and the coronation of King Charles III. In addition, he led work on cultural change within the Brigade in the wake of the Culture Review.[1][2]
List of London Fire Brigade chief officers and commissioners
From | To | Military rank (if applicable) |
Name | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
1833 | 1861 | James Braidwood | First director of the London Fire Engine Establishment (which later became the London Fire Brigade). | |
1861 | 1891 | Captain | Eyre Massey Shaw | First Chief Officer of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade. |
1891 | 1896 | James Sexton Simmonds | ||
1896 | 1903 | Captain (RN) | Lionel de Lautour Wells | |
1903 | 1909 | Rear Admiral | James de Courcy Hamilton | |
1909 | 1918 | Lieutenant Commander | Sir Sampson Sladen | |
1918 | 1933 | Arthur Reginald Dyer | ||
1933 | 1938 | Major | Cyril Morris | Only LFB chief officer to have been awarded the Military Cross |
1938 | 1941 | Commander | Sir Aylmer Firebrace | The first and only person to head firefighting across the whole of Great Britain. |
1948 | 1962 | Sir Frederick Delve | First chief officer after the end of Fire Brigade nationalisation | |
1962 | 1970 | Leslie Leete | ||
1970 | 1976 | Joseph Milner | Director of the Hong Kong Fire Services from 1961–1970 before his appointment to the London Fire Brigade | |
1976 | 1980 | Peter Darby | ||
1980 | 1987 | Ronald Bullers | ||
1987 | 1991 | Gerald Clarkson | ||
1991 | 2003 | Brian Robinson | ||
2003 | 2007 | Sir Ken Knight | ||
2007 | 2016 | Ron Dobson | ||
2016 | 2019 | Dany Cotton | First woman commissioner. Retired earlier than planned due to criticism of LFB handling of fire at Grenfell Tower. | |
2019 | 2025 | Captain | Andy Roe | |
2025 | Present | Jonathan Smith |
References
- ^ a b c "New London Fire Commissioner takes office". www.london-fire.gov.uk. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
- ^ a b c "Jonathan Smith - London Fire Brigade Commissioner". www.london-fire.gov.uk. Retrieved 16 July 2025.