Charlie Pugsley:

Deputy Commissioner

Charlie began his career with the London Fire Brigade in 1996 as a firefighter. In 2004, he transitioned to the Brigade’s Fire Investigation Team, where he spent 13 years as a fire investigator and team manager. During this time, he led or supported most of London’s major fire investigations. In 2017, he was promoted to Deputy Assistant Commissioner in Fire Safety.

In 2022, Charlie was promoted to Assistant Commissioner in Fire Safety (Prevention & Protection). In this role, he oversaw multiple areas, including:

  • fire safety in London's buildings and transport networks
  • home fire safety
  • prevention work such as water and road safety
  • youth programs: aimed at building fire safety awareness among young people

Charlie has also contributed to several public campaigns led by the London Fire Brigade, including:

  • Total Recalls campaign: focused on making white goods (appliances) safer
  • Chargesafe campaign: aimed at improving the safety of lithium-ion battery-powered e-scooters and e-bikes

As of March 2024, Charlie holds the position of Deputy Commissioner/Director of Prevention, Protection, and Operational Policy. Additionally, he serves as the National Fire Chiefs Council’s lead officer for Electrical Safety as well as Fire Investigation.

Meet the team