DORSET’S top fire chief has announced his retirement. 

Ben Ansell, chief fire officer of Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, told staff and authority members that he will leave on December 31 having completed 30 years at the fire service. 

He said he feels ”honoured" to have led the newly combined service since 2016 as chief fire officer and has been “humbled” by the collective trust placed in him to lead such a fantastic organisation. 

Ben said: “I am immensely proud of the progress we have made together as an organisation, particularly during the challenging times we have faced.  

“The decision has not been made lightly, but I believe it is the right time for me to step down and allow for new leadership to guide our service forward.” 

Paul Oatwa, chair of the fire and rescue authority, added: “It is a sad day for the authority and service to lose such an enthusiastic and dynamic leader but I fully support and understands Ben’s decision to retire after over 30 years of service, having led the organisation as an exceptional chief fire officer and respected both locally and nationally for the past eight years.” 

Mr Ansell joined Dorset Fire Brigade in 1994 and served as an operational firefighter in Bournemouth and Poole for a number of years. He also worked at the training centre at West Moors. 

In 2012 he led the service's planning for the 2012 Olympics, the same year he was promoted to assistant chief fire officer in Dorset.