Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service (MFRS) is pleased to announce the appointment of Nick Searle QFSM to the role of Chief Fire Officer (CFO).
CFO Searle, who has served as the Deputy Chief Fire Officer (DCFO) of MFRS for the past six years, officially takes up the post on April 1st 2025, following the departure of previous CFO Phil Garrigan who is taking up the role of Chair of the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC).
CFO Searle joined MFRS in 1995 and throughout his exemplary career, has served in several roles and directorates. Since he was appointed as DCFO in October 2018, he has been responsible for Operational Preparedness, Training, Collaboration and Merseyside Fire & Authority (MFRA)’s role as Lead Authority for National Resilience.
In January 2022, he was recognised in the New Year Honours List, receiving the prestigious award of Queen’s Fire Service Medal, a great honour in the Fire & Rescue community, awarded for distinguished service or gallantry.
Incoming Chief Fire Officer Searle said: “It is a great honour to take up the leadership role in such an amazing Service and I would like to take this opportunity to thank Phil Garrigan for his outstanding contribution to the service and wish him well in his new role with the NFCC.
"I know that all staff throughout the Service work incredibly hard to support each other, the people of Merseyside and beyond and I will do my utmost to support them all in their dedication to their duty.
“We have a long and proud history, and we will continue to use innovation, experience, teamwork and professionalism to protect those in their hour of need. We are a diverse group of people in a range of varied roles, all working together to deliver the best response to the communities we serve. We will always be there for you when things are at their toughest.”
Nationally, Nick is the NFCC (National Fire Chiefs Council) Strategic Lead for both UK National Resilience and the UK International Search and Rescue team (UK ISAR).
In 2014, he led the UK International Search and Rescue Team on a British Fire and Rescue Service flood deployment to Bosnia and is the Governments link into the Fire Service, providing strategic advice and guidance for deployments to earthquakes in Turkey and Morocco and flooding in Malawi (2023).
CFO Searle’s appointment comes at a significant time for the Service as it builds upon the opening of a state-of-the-art Training and Development Academy and National Resilience Centre of Excellence in the summer of last year. As the lead authority for National Resilience and UK ISAR the Service is responsible for the co-ordination of fire service assets to widespread national incidents such as flooding and wildfires, and any overseas deployments in the event of a major disaster.
The service is also moving forward with a very positive and progressive mindset cemented by a series of overwhelmingly positive judgements from successive HMICFRS (His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services) inspections.
Chair of Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority (MFRA) Cllr Les Byrom CBE said: “On behalf of Merseyside Fire & Rescue Authority, I’d like to congratulate Nick on his appointment after a rigorous selection process.
"We have no doubt his exceptional experience, commitment and dedication to the role will ensure MFRS continues to provide the best possible service to the communities of Merseyside.
"I would also like to thank our previous Chief Fire Officer Phil Garrigan for his committed service with MFRS which has left us with a very positive base to build on and we look forward to working in partnership with him as the chair of the National Fire Chiefs Council.”