Trail-blazing fire chief leaving

Staffordshire's top firefighter is retiring after 32 years of dedication to fighting and preventing fires.

Alan Doig is leaving Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service after nine years as its chief fire officer and chief executive on April 6.

Mr Doig, aged 51, who was born in Kirkcaldy, Fife, joined the fire service in his home town and came to Staffordshire in 1988 as a district officer in the east of the county. He was divisional commander in Stoke-on-Trent before being appointed deputy chief in 1995.

During his time in charge of Staffordshire the county service has become acknowledged as one of the best performing in the country.

Mr Doig, who yesterday attended his final meeting of the county fire authority, said recent years had seen a lot of alterations in the service.

He has been a driving force in making changes in the way the service operates with some resistance from the rank and file.

There has been a change in emphasis from fighting fires to prevention during his time at the top.

He said the service had to continue to work hard to gain the confidence of both staff and public.

Mr Doig added the FBU strike in 2002 and 2003 had been the low point of his career and said he hoped there would never be another firefighters' strike.

He said his highs has included the training of health workers to carry out fire risk checks and make referrals for safety assessments by firefighters through the Olive Branch Project.

The scheme was set up after pensioner Olive Simcock died in a house fire at Bymhill Common in November 2006. At the time of her death there was no system for care agencies to liaise with the fire service.

Since then the project has been implemented in eight of the nine area commands in Staffordshire.

Mr Doig is also proud of the success in cutting arson rates by 30 per cent in the county since 2004.

Since Mr Doig's retirement was announced last year he has set up th new Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service staff awards.

After retirement he plans to spend more time with his wife Senga and enjoy his hobbies of golf and walking.

Mr Doig is being succeeded by his current deputy Peter Dartford, aged 44.