Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service has announced that Chief Fire Officer Roger Thomas KFSM will retire on October 19, bringing to a close a distinguished 29-year career dedicated to public safety and community service.

Joining the Service in 1996, Roger rose through the ranks from firefighter to Chief Fire Officer, holding numerous operational and leadership roles. Throughout his tenure, he held a variety of operational and leadership roles, including a secondment to the Welsh Government in 2007/2008, where he brought frontline experience to the heart of policy-making. In 2014, he joined the Executive Leadership Team as Area Manager, and from 2017, served in Brigade Manager roles during a period of significant transformation for the Service.

Appointed Chief Fire Officer in April 2022, Roger led with vision, compassion, and a commitment to innovation, community engagement, and inclusivity. His work was recognised in the 2024 King’s Birthday Honours.

“It has been the greatest honour of my life to serve Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service,” he said.

“I am immensely proud of what we have achieved together and deeply grateful for the support of my colleagues and our communities.

“As I step into retirement, I do so with full confidence in the future of the Service and the incredible people who will continue to lead it forward."

Councillor John Davies, Chair of Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Authority, said: “Roger’s legacy is reflected not only in the policies he shaped and the incidents he led, but in the people he mentored, the teams he inspired and the trust he built across the organisation and beyond.

“He leaves behind a Service that is stronger, more agile and deeply connected to the communities it serves. On behalf of the Authority, I wish Roger a long and healthy retirement”