- Author, Clare Lissaman
- Role, BBC News, West Midlands
The chief executive of the West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS) has reacted angrily to a report in a national newspaper which described the organisation as “ridden by scandal”.
Oliver Lee, who became WMFS chief executive in March, told a news conference he “objected” to an article in The Sun newspaper that made the comment.
“I do not accept that this is a ‘scandal-tainted’ country and it will not be during my term here either,” he said.
Mr Lee was speaking after a former Oldbury fire station employee died on Monday. The death followed that of former fire chief Wayne Brown, who was found at his home in January. Neither is being treated as suspicious.
The press conference at WMFS headquarters in Birmingham was called following the death of Ian Revell at Oldbury Fire Station early on Monday.
“While the circumstances are not being treated as suspicious, we will be working closely with West Midlands Police to establish the full circumstances,” WMFS said.
Mr Lee told reporters that Mr Revell’s death followed the deaths of five others in the service in the past 10 weeks.
He said that while it had been a “huge privilege” to lead the WMFS over the past four months, it had been a very challenging time.
“During this time we have been in the grip of considerable sadness and tragedy,” he said.
He said his own appointment followed the “indescribable tragedy” of the death of former chief officer Wayne Brown.
“Unfortunately, due to circumstances, I never met Wayne and I really wish I had,” he said.
Mr Lee added that an investigation into Mr Brown’s death was ongoing.
The WMFS chief, flanked by his deputy Simon Barry, praised the fire service and said that over the past four months his job had involved responding to 7,000 emergency calls as well as thousands of “safe and well” calls to protect vulnerable people.
He said it was a “remarkable reward” for his employees.
“The organization is of course in mourning, but it has not hesitated to continue what it does on a daily basis,” he said.
He said the country was not “tainted by scandal” and was working hard to protect three million people.
“This organisation is a responsible, uniformed public emergency service, paid for by public money, and every day it does its utmost to protect the people of the West Midlands,” he said.
The service said in a statement following Mr Revell’s death that its thoughts were with “all those affected by this terrible news”, including his loved ones and colleagues.
“We will make sure they get all the support possible,” he added.
“The flags were flown at half-mast at our sites as a mark of respect.”
