Mark Thomas is the Area Manager for Prevention at Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service.
Mark joined the Service in October 1992 and has over 29 years’ experience working across all directorates in both district and functional management roles.
Mark first became a Senior Officer in 2009 as a Station Manager in the Operational Performance Team. Since then, he has managed Community Fire Stations and led the Operational Planning and Policy team, gaining experience in emergency planning, blue light collaboration, the Local Resilience Forum and strategic business continuity.
Promoted to Group Manager in 2017, Mark was responsible for the Home Safety department, developing the strategy to target those most vulnerable from fire, leading the Service to its fewest number of fire fatalities and contributing twice to MFRS Prevention activity being recognised as Outstanding by HMICFRS.
Mark was promoted to Area Manager in June 2022 and is now responsible for the Prevention directorate. He oversees a number of departments including Home Safety, Community Safety, Incident Investigation, Youth Engagement and Education, Safeguarding and high-risk referrals. He is co-opted onto the NFCC Home Safety Committee where he has worked with Strategic Health colleagues to devise and deliver a person-centred approach to Home Safety.
Mark has worked on several key areas to support delivery of the IRMP. Through the COVID pandemic he chaired the NFCC Home Safety Communications cell and led a team of over 200 MFRS staff who became trained to administer vaccinations.
Mark takes a lead officer role regarding mental health and wellbeing. Introducing Critical Incident Stress Management to the Service in 2012, he remains a passionate leader of the process, also supporting Health Education England, University College London, and the Royal College of Psychiatrists to develop a psychological safety package for emergency service staff.