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Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service appoints new Chief Fire & Rescue Officer
The Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) Board and Health Minister Robin Swann MLA have announced the appointment of the organisation’s new Chief Fire & Rescue Officer.
Peter O’Reilly QFSM will commence the role on 1 September 2021.
Commenting on the news, Minister Swann said:
“I welcome the appointment of Peter O’Reilly as the new Chief Fire & Rescue Officer for the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service. With over 25 years of experience within the fire and rescue services, I have no doubt that he will provide the necessary leadership to guide NIFRS into the future.”
The Minister also thanked Michael Graham for his valuable contribution as Interim Chief Fire & Rescue Officer.
As Chief Fire & Rescue Officer, Mr O’Reilly will have a central role in ensuring continued success and providing additional stability as NIFRS emerges from the challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Congratulating Mr O’Reilly on his appointment, Carmel McKinney OBE, Chair of the NIFRS Board, said:
“Peter is a committed and dedicated firefighter who will bring a wealth of operational and strategic experience to the role.”
Peter O’Reilly joined the then Northern Ireland Fire Brigade in 1990. He served most of his career in Belfast as a Firefighter, Junior Officer and District Commander before moving to Ballymena to become Assistant Area Commander and later Northern Area Commander.
In 2011 Mr O’Reilly joined Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service as Assistant Chief Fire Officer, and was the organisation’s Chief Fire Officer between 2015 and 2018.
As a member of the National Fire Chiefs Council, he has served as Chair of its Fire Engineering and Technical Standards Committee and Chair of its Strategic Health Committee, and also was also Chair of the Fire and Rescue Sector National Occupational Committee.
Peter O’Reilly, newly appointed Chief Fire & Rescue Officer, said:
“Having started my firefighting career with NIFRS, I am extremely proud to lead it going forward and work with over 1,800 exceptional operational and wider supporting team members as we continue to deliver our prevention and emergency response service to protect our community.”
