THE Isle of Man’s next chief fire officer was unable to guarantee that he would be able to maintain the current number of fire stations and fire fighters when he takes up the position next month.
On Friday, it was announced that Kevin Groom had been promoted from deputy chief fire officer to lead the Fire and Rescue Service, following Brian Draper’s retirement.
When asked whether he was looking to keep the current seven fire stations and staff numbers the same, he said: ‘I have to work within the financial budget as it’s given to me. We have to look at everything we are doing.
‘I have to acknowledge I may have to reduce the size of the Isle of Man Fire and Rescue Service. We have to look at both stations and staff.’
He said that over the last three years the service had seen a reduced budget, which had led to it operating at a lower cost and with fewer staff – lost through natural wastage. As chief fire officer, Mr Groom said that he had to look forward, and see whether an ‘effective and efficient’ service could be delivered differently.
In order to do that, he said that he needed people – both whole time and retained – and it was important that they had the chance to develop further.
He said that his key priority would be to protect the vulnerable and to reduce fire risk.
Mr Groom, aged 51, started his career as a firefighter with the service in August 1982.
He said that the announcement ‘was a very proud day’, adding: ‘I am very honoured to be able to lead the Isle of Man Fire and Rescue Service in the future.’
He added: ‘Over the last 30 years my aspirations have been to progress through the service.
‘I have served at every level on the operation and fire safety side. It’s very important to have that knowledge and experience.’
Mr Groom will take up the position on February 16.
He will head a team of 53 wholetime fire fighters, 110 retained fire fighters and four support staff based at Douglas and the six retained stations at Douglas, Laxey. Ramsey, Kirk Michael, Peel, Port Erin and Castletown.
Home Affairs Minister Juan Watterson MHK said: ‘The Department of Home Affairs is delighted to appoint Kevin Groom as the island’s next chief fire officer.
‘The department is committed to enhancing community safety and the excellent quality of life we all enjoy in the Isle of Man, and Kevin will have a fundamental part to play in that.’
