News

UK Chief Fire Officer Kevin Pearson has Passed Away

The MDM team were sorry to hear that serving UK Chief Fire Officer (CFO), Kevin Pearson of Avon Fire and Rescue Service has died aged 58.

Colleagues in Avon Fire and Rescue Service were joined in a minutes silence yesterday by Firefighters in the Gambia Fire and Rescue Service recognising the significant contribution Kevin made to both Services in his role as a trustee for The Gambia and Avon Fire Services in Partnership (GAFSIP) charity. His work over many years led CFO Pearson to be awarded the Member of the Republic of The Gambia (MRG) in 2013, an award rarely given to non-Gambian nationals.

Kevin Pearson joined Avon Fire & Rescue Service in 1994 as a Divisional Officer and became one of the youngest Chief Fire Officers in the country when he was appointed to the role in August 2001.

He had worked in the UK fire and rescue service for 37 years, joining as a Firefighter at Cleveland Fire Brigade in 1980. From there he worked in a number of roles before joining Oxfordshire Fire Brigade and then Avon Fire and Rescue Service. At the time of his death, CFO Pearson was the longest-serving fire chief in the United Kingdom.

CFO Pearsons family issued a statement through the Avon Fire and Rescue Service website saying: “Kevin Pearson was a much-loved family man who was adored by us all.

“We, his fiancée, his sons, and devoted step-children, his mother and his two brothers are totally distraught by the unexpected death of our beloved Kevin.

“He was a kind and generous man who was happier than he has ever been and the fact that his life has been so cruelly cut short has left us all so very, very sad.”

The UK Fire Brigades Union said on Twitter;

“We always found CFO Pearson to be approachable, honest and committed to a better and more equal fire and rescue service.

“We are struck by the many messages we have received from Avon firefighters who have stated their desire for CFO Pearson to be remembered as a Chief Fire Officer whom they respected.

“Our thoughts and solidarity are with Kevin’s family, friends and everyone touched by his untimely death.”

CFO Pearson will receive a full fire and rescue service funeral, but details are yet to be confirmed.

Image courtesy of Avon Fire and Rescue Service