Fire chief to step down

Chief fire officer Mark Smitherman is to retire in April, paving the way for a restructure of the service's principal officer team, reducing the number of directors from five to four.

The reduction in director-level posts is part of a management restructuring aimed at saving over £300,000.

Cllr Jim Andrews, chairman of the fire authority, said: “Mark will have served South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue with distinction for seven years by the time of his retirement.

“It has been a challenging period but we have made massive strides in improving the safety of local people during Mark's time with us.”

Mr Smitherman said: “I have enjoyed my career immensely, and I am especially proud of the achievements made by everyone in the last seven years.

“People throughout the county have never been safer than they are now, and that is a tribute to the elected members who have served on the authority, and all the firefighters, control room operators and corporate staff who have made those improvements happen.”

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