SUFFOLK today has a new deputy chief fire officer.The county council has announced Andy Fry will take up the position with Suffolk's Fire and Rescue Service.

SUFFOLK today has a new deputy chief fire officer.

The county council has announced Andy Fry will take up the position with Suffolk's Fire and Rescue Service.

Mr Fry is currently responsible for service delivery within Essex Fire & Rescue Service where he has held the post of Assistant Chief Fire Officer for nearly five years.

The county council said Mr Fry, who lives in Essex, has twenty years of experience since he joined the service in 1987.

He will work under Chief Fire Officer and Director of Public Protection, Lee Howell, and will oversee the operational work of Suffolk's fire and rescue service.

His appointment was made by a panel of county councillors after a lengthy assessment process and he will take up his post of DCFO in January 2008.

Announcing the appointment, portfolio holder for public protection, Cllr Joanna Spicer said: “This is a key post for Suffolk and one which brings with it the responsibility not only for response in the county but also for the fire prevention and wider community safety.

“Andy Fry brings with him a wealth of experience to us here in Suffolk, particularly from his most recent appointment as Director of Safer Communities at Essex Fire and Rescue service.

“Andy has a proven track record in getting results in this area and we are looking for him to build on the successful foundations we already have here in the county."

Welcoming Mr Fry, Mr Howell said: "The priority for the Fire and Rescue Service is to reduce the number of lives lost to fire and accident and to make Suffolk a safer place.

“Key to this is our community safety agenda, whether it is reducing arson, anti-social behaviour or proactively working with local communities on successful IMPACT events. I'm delighted to welcome Andy to the team and look forward to him joining the service in January."

Responding to the news of his appointment, Mr Fry expressed “delight” at having been selected to join the senior team in Suffolk fire and rescue service.

He said: “Having been appointed into the role of Deputy Chief Fire Officer, I will now be able to take advantage of the professional opportunities presented in working towards the service's stated aim of making Suffolk the safest county in the country.”