A senior emergency planner at West Yorkshire Fire Service has been appointed to a national role.
As National Fire Resilience Officer Brian Ward will be responsible for helping to protect the UK from disasters, such as floods and chemical or nuclear catastrophes.
He will control key vehicles and equipment and manage a central command team based at the Fire Service College in Gloucestershire.
Mr Ward, who will be on a two-year secondment, fought off tough competition from more than 20 of the most experienced candidates.
Mr Ward joined West Yorkshire Fire Service almost 20 years ago, has lectured internationally and is a former president of the Emergency Planning Society. He said: “I am delighted with my new role but acknowledge the enormous debt I owe to colleagues in West Yorkshire Fire Service, in particular chief fire officer Simon Pilling, for their support.”
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