Andy Roe KFSM has retired from his role as London Fire Commissioner after 23 years' service as a firefighter. Andy took on the role of London Fire Commissioner in 2020 and led London Fire Brigade for over five years.
During his time as Commissioner he implemented major reforms following the inquiries into Grenfell and Brigade’s Culture Review, including completing all 29 of the recommendations from the first Grenfell Tower inquiry. Alongside this, Andy has worked to rebuild the Brigade’s relationship with members of the Grenfell community.
As Commissioner he led the Brigade through the pandemic, where firefighters took on additional roles to support the wider pandemic response. This included firefighter being seconded to the London Ambulance Service to act as drivers, and crews helping make protective personal equipment for key workers.
Following an independent review, commissioned by Andy, of the Brigade’s culture following the death of Firefighter Jaden Matthew Francois Esprit. The review identified cultural and social issues that required addressing. Andy implemented many changes to improve the Brigade’s culture, which included creating the first Professional Standards Unit for a fire and rescue service in the UK.
Over the last five years, the Brigade has also implemented a new response capability for Marauding Terrorist Attacks. Every firefighter in London is now specially trained and equipped with how to respond to an act of terror, ensuring the Brigade can fully deploy its rescue capabilities alongside the police and paramedics.
Reflecting on his time as Commissioner, Andy Roe KFSM said: “It has been an honour and a privilege to lead London Fire Brigade over the last five years. I have seen firefighters, control officers and staff from across the Brigade work with determination and dedication to keep London and Londoners safe.
“We have implemented significant changes in how we respond to high rise fires across the capital, and are now better equipped to deal with the unique challenges that protecting this city presents – deploying some of the most advanced firefighting equipment in the world.
“Members of the Brigade have embraced the challenge of improving our service, building meaningful relationships with the communities we serve and creating an organisation of which London can be proud.
“As I retire, I know that my successor as London Fire Commissioner, Jonathan Smith, will continue the work to make that a reality. I wish him the best and hope he enjoys his time as Commissioner as much as I have.”