Cumbria's Chief Fire Officer Bernard Dolan has announced he is to retire at the end of March after nearly 39 years in the Fire and Rescue Service.
For the last two years, Mr Dolan has served as the county's top firefighter and corporate director of Public Protection for Cumbria County Council.
Commenting on his retirement, Mr Dolan said: "It has been a real privilege to serve the people of Cumbria over all these years and to work with such a dedicated and professional group of individuals.
"My time as Cumbria's Chief Fire Officer has been immensely satisfying and I am particularly proud to have helped steer the county's Fire and Rescue Service on its crucially important journey of modernisation.
"I think that now is an opportune time to hand over the baton to someone who can build upon that work. Retirement is also an opportunity for me to devote more time to family commitments."
Councillor Tim Stoddard, Leader of Cumbria County Council, said: "Bernard is enormously respected, both in the Fire and Rescue Service and the whole county council. He leaves Cumbria's Fire & Rescue Service in excellent shape. His work as Chief Fire Officer to reform the service in Cumbria has undoubtedly helped make the county a safer place."
Cumbria County Council's Chief Executive. Peter Sybelski, said: "The Fire and Rescue Service has a renowned culture of camaraderie and friendship. Bernard will be leaving many friends across the whole organisation. We wish him all the very best for a happy and well-deserved retirement."
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Bernard joined Lancashire Fire Service in 1968 and served at a number of locations prior to moving to Barrow in Furness County Borough Fire Service in 1971.
Following local government re-organisation in 1974, Barrow became part of Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service and Bernard has served the remainder of his career within Cumbria having worked in all locations across the County.
He served for some ten years as the Deputy Chief Fire Officer prior to his appointment as the Corporate Director/Chief Fire Officer almost two years ago.
He has led the Fire and Rescue Service through a difficult modernisation process including the industrial action that took place. He has commanded a number of the major incidents that have occurred in Cumbria over the years. This included leading the Fire & Rescue Service response to the Cumbrian Storms.
He retires on 31st March, 2007 having completed thirty eight and a half years service.