Kevin Longshaw is the Area Manager for Protection at Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service.
He joined MFRS in 1998 and has served at a number of community fire stations. In 2004, he became one of the original members of Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service’s search & rescue team - the first of its kind in the UK fire and rescue service.
During his career, Kevin has been involved in and led on a number of key national work-streams resulting in the production of national guidance and other doctrine in areas such as health and safety, fire service operations, technical rescue and national resilience.
His operational experience has seen him attend a number of high profile incidents including various wide scale flooding events across the UK and the Bosley Wood Flour Mill explosion in Cheshire, for which he received a Chief Fire Officer's commendation. He was also deployed to the British Virgin Islands to lead the assessment, search and rescue operations following Hurricane Irma in 2017.
Until January 2021, Kevin was responsible for ensuring Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service's National Resilience assets met the required local and national standards. This was recognised during the Service’s 2018/19 HMICFRS inspection when its effectiveness in responding to national incidents was rated as 'outstanding'.
Kevin is currently Area Manager with responsibility for Community Risk Management- Protection. Following the tragic events of Grenfell Tower there has been an increased expectation from both domestic and non-domestic sectors relating to Fire Safety and Kevin provides strategic leadership, governance and accountability for all of our Protection activity.
For the last four years, Kevin has been a Blue Light Champion, promoting positive mental health awareness across the emergency response sector. Outside of his role, Kevin is also involved with a local initiative working with young adults experiencing challenges at college and work.