Fire Authority appoints permanent Chief Fire Officer for Devon and Somerset

A new Chief Fire Officer has been appointed to lead fire and rescue services across Devon and Somerset.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Authority, the body that governs the fire and rescue service for the two counties, appointed Gavin Ellis at its meeting on 10 June 2024.

Gavin has been serving as interim Chief Fire Officer since May 2023. He will replace Lee Howell, who is currently on secondment at the National Fire Chiefs Council and is retiring in September, as permanent Chief Fire Officer responsible for the day to day running of the Service.

At the same meeting, the Fire Authority elected Councillor Simon Coles as Chair of Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Authority.

Gavin joined Northamptonshire Fire Service at age 19 in 2000 before transferring to Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service in 2010 as Station Manager. Between 2011 and 2017 he was promoted to Group Manager and worked in a variety of roles across the Service. In 2016, Gavin was seconded to lead a team that reviewed and produced an external report on the Royal Clarence Hotel fire in Exeter.

In 2018 he was seconded to the newly formed Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS). As Chief of Staff, he successfully led dedicated teams in delivering the first round of these independent inspections.

Gavin returned to Devon and Somerset in January 2020 and held the Area Manager Service Delivery role from February 2020 until July 2020 when he was appointed as Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Director of Service Improvement, with key responsibility for driving service performance and preparing the launch of the 2022/2027 Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP).

He was promoted to Deputy Chief Fire Officer In March 2022 and stepped into the Interim Chief Fire Officer role in May 2023.

Gavin’s appointment comes at an important time for the Service as it continues to work to support people to be safer at home, at work, on the road and when visiting the two counties, aiming to provide an effective service to the public despite continued financial challenges.

Commenting on the appointment, Chair of the Fire Authority Councillor Simon Coles said:

“I am delighted to confirm Gavin as the permanent Chief Fire Officer after a rigorous and competitive selection process.

He brings significant experience and has proven himself to be a strong strategic leader. I look forward to working closely with him as we strive to make people living in or visiting our counties even safer.

On behalf of the Fire Authority, I want to say thank you to Lee Howell who leaves an enormous legacy in the 16 years he has been Chief Fire Officer.”

Gavin Ellis said: 

“It has been the privilege of my career to lead the Service over the last twelve months on a temporary basis, to have been appointed permanently and to be able to continue this is truly fantastic.

I am proud of the Service, the people who work within it and what we stand for in delivering our services to communities and partners.

I will continue to work hard to provide the best service to those who live and work in Devon and Somerset or visit our two beautiful counties.”