Meet the Commissioner

The man at the top of London's fire service is anxious to develop the Brigade's working relationship with the capital's boroughs. Ian Mitchell reports.

With some 7,000 staff, 6,000 of which are operational firefighters and officers based at 111 fire stations (plus a fire boat station), across the capital, London is home to the third biggest fire service in the world.

Ron Dobson first signed up to join that service in 1979 and nearly 30 years on he has risen through the ranks, from frontline firefighter in Ealing to become Commissioner for the entire London Fire Brigade, following his appointment as successor to Sir Ken Knight last year.

Originally drawn to the service by a desire to "be active and get out there and help people who are at risk", Mr Dobson says the day to day working life of a firefighter in the capital today is very different to when he first joined; and is all the better for it.

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