Phil Byrne is the Area Manager for Operational Preparedness at Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (MFRS).
He began his career with MFRS in August 2002 and has over 23 years’ experience serving the people of Merseyside from several Community Fire Stations located across the region.
He was promoted to the role of Crew Manager in 2005 and to Watch Manager in 2007, serving at Kirkdale, Huyton, Aintree, and Crosby, before taking on a role within the Prevention Directorate.
In 2014, Phil became a Station Manager, overseeing Community Fire Stations in Knowsley and St Helens before fulfilling roles in Prevention, Preparedness, and Protection.
Phil was the lead officer for the introduction of the MFRS Safe and Well Visits and the Service Drone Team.
In 2021, Phil was appointed to Group Manager, taking on roles within Protection, including the Grenfell Tower Inquiry project.
By January 2024 Phil became lead officer for Operational Training, managing the move to the Service’s brand new state of the art Training and Development Academy situated on Long Lane, Aintree.
Phil was also lead officer for the MFRS Hazardous Materials and Detection, Identification and Monitoring (DIM) capability.
Becoming Area Manager for Operational Preparedness in 2025, in his current role, Phil oversees a number of different departments that provide the operational workforce with training, equipment, information, and procedures to effectively respond to all emergency incidents.