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Chief Fire Adviser Successor Announced.

Peter Holland CBE, former chief fire officer of Lancashire Fire and Rescue Authority, is to succeed Sir Ken Knight as the Government'’s chief fire adviser.

Fire Minister Brandon Lewis MP announced on 22 January that Peter Holland CBE will take over from Sir Ken Knight as the next chief fire and rescue adviser from 28 January 2013. Sir Ken has held the post since 2007. The appointment follows a competitive recruitment round and Peter Holland will be employed on a two-year contract as a senior civil servant.

In his role, Mr Holland will provide professional advice and support to senior officials and ministers on a range of matters including fire policy, national resilience, fire safety, and the inspection of Crown premises. He will also provide advice and support to the Government in the event of any national emergencies.

Commenting on the appointment, the Fire Minister said: 'I am delighted that Peter will be joining us in January. Fire and rescue authorities deliver incredibly important local services and play a vital role in national resilience. Peter’s appointment is crucial to helping them do this, as well as supporting key policies such as the decentralisation of power from Whitehall, promoting local accountability and transparency, and helping fire and rescue authorities to be as efficient as possible.

‘I would like to pay tribute to the fantastic work done by Sir Ken Knight, who has done so much to ensure that we have fire and rescue services that are the envy of the world, including most recently, an enormous contribution to the resilience planning for the Olympics. I am sure that Peter will continue the exceptional work that Sir Ken has done.'

Mr Holland joins the Department for Communities and Local Government after a career in fire and rescue spanning more than 40 years. His wide-ranging experience includes front-line firefighting, senior management, the leadership of two fire and rescue services, his work as international president of the Institution of Fire Engineers, and a national role as president of the Chief Fire Officers Association.

In response, he said he was honoured to be joining the department in this important role and looked forward to bringing his experience in fire and rescue to help support and shape the Government’s agenda for a vital and life-saving public service.