Norfolk Fire needs to become more 'diverse and inclusive' - new interim chief officer
Tim Edwards was appointed as Norfolk's new interim chief fire officer less than a week ago
Last updated 16th Feb 2022
Norfolk Fire and Rescue needs to become more diverse and inclusive.
That's according to the service's new interim chief officer Tim Edwards, who was appointed to the role less than a week ago.
He's set recruiting the best and brightest from differenct backgrounds across the couty as a ket goal.
"We need more female fire fire-fighters, we need more black, Asian and ethnic minorities in the service as well to give us that rich diversity to really continue to meet the needs of the community we serve. We are not just about fighting fires and I think that's the biggest change I've seen from when I started to where I am now" he said.
Mr Edwards also told us that he's confident the service 'can and will do better'.
Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services most recent inspection of the service found there was 'room to improve' when it came to preventing fire and protecting the public from it.
"There is more work to do when it comes to those areas. We've got another inspection result due April/May time of this year.
"We're interested to see what they think and the journey that we've come on. I think there will be a bit more work to be done, we've got a great team around us. We've also got that intent to improve, I think we will and I believe we will".
Tim joined Norfolk Fire and Rescue as a junior firefighter in 1988, quickly moving through the ranks at King's Lynn.
Reflecting on his rise to the top of the department Mr Edwards told us he'd always wanted to the join the service, but has never had long-term aims to get this role:
"I remember a key incident where unfortunately there was some arson at the school, and we had a wood pavilion and it caught fire.
"We were sitting on the fields and saw the fire-fighters come in and deal with the fire, I thought that's what I want to do. I followed it from an early age, from about ten or eleven and got a great opportunity when I was sixteen to join up.
"I remember distinctly getting the role of firefighter and joining Blue Watch in Kings Lynn and thinking, I've made it. I'm a fire fighter at a station that I walked passed everyday when going to school.
"I suppose as my career started to unfold and develop, one of the things I did was make sure I was in a position to take an opportunity without being blinded by ambition".