In this conversation, I had a discussion about firefighting in the UK based upon the incident at Grenfell Tower fire. We talked about the evolution of firefighting, the challenges of implementing new scientific knowledge, and the cultural and operational issues that prevent the service from learning from past disasters.
We focused on the need for better training, honest assessments of mistakes, and the importance of empowering firefighters to make quick choices. We also touched upon the complex position of fire chiefs and the need for a more proactive approach to fire safety.
Steve McGuirk, CBE, QFSM, DL, MA BA (Hons), BSc, FIFireE
Steve had a distinguished first career as a Chief Fire Officer and CEO in the Fire and Rescue sector – joining the Service in 1976 and leaving as a Chief Fire Officer in 2015. During this period, he served in, and, led several fire and rescue organisations and dealt with many difficult, tragic, and complex emergencies / crises. Notably, Steve had to deal with the tragic loss of a colleague – a death on duty incident – in 2013. He also led Greater Manchester’s Resilience Forum for several years as part of the GM Wider Leadership Team.
Steve was a Board member of the Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA) for nearly ten years, including being the President of the Association from 2006-2008. He was also a Principal Adviser to the Local Government Association and the National Employers’ Organisation for the Sector. He provided evidence to several Select Committee and Public Account Enquiries over the course of his professional career.
He was awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in 1996, the Queen’s Fire Service Medal in 2002, and the CBE in 2005, and for the last twelve years has been a Deputy Lieutenant (DL) for Greater Manchester.
Steve embarked on a second “portfolio” career when leaving the Fire service with two key strands, in addition to several trustee and strategic advisory roles (including the Leadership College for Government). The first strand has entailed being a (Non-Executive) Chair of a Hospitals Foundation Trust for nearly a decade – steering the Trust through the unprecedented Covid 19 Pandemic, and then thorough its (continuing) recovery and improvement journey.
But secondly, he has retained a fire sector role, primarily as Expert Witness to the Grenfell Tower Fire Public Inquiry throughout its existence – as well as advising the Scottish Procurator Fiscal. Most recently, though, in 2023, he also took up a position as Executive Officer to the Fire Sector Federation.
He holds a first Degree in Fire Safety, an Honours degree in Politics and Social Science, a Masters in Management and is a Fellow of the Institution of Fire Engineers.
Steve was made a Visiting Professor to Chester University in 2025.
This is the truth, or maybe not.
This conversation might not always be accurate. I am no guru and sometimes simple mistakes are made, especially if English isn’t a person’s first language. It’s just our chat – nothing more or less. Have fun!
