Durham & Darlington Fire & Rescue - Susan Johnson

When Susan Johnson was appointed to this role in 2005 she was the first women Chief Officer and the first to come from a non-operational background.  As can be imagined this caused some controversy at the time but she has since proved to be a very effective manager in a quite complex situation.

Susan gave us a very effective and informative description of the challenges the Fire and Rescue services face around the country in the current economic and political climate.  She highlighted the changing role of the traditional fire brigade as a result of the emphasis on fire prevention advice leading to a significant reduction in actual fires and described the way in which there is much more cooperation between all of the "blue light" services.

Have a look at the service's website ...

After the meeting Ms Johnson was introduced to a past Chief Officer of both the Durham and Tyne & Wear Fire & Rescue Services - our revered member Fred Elton OBE QFSM PHF.