Gary Ball Appointed as New Assistant Chief Fire Officer for West Sussex

West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service has announced the appointment of Gary Ball as its new assistant chief fire officer.

Ball, who previously served as the area manager for service delivery, will take over from Peter Rickard, now the chief fire officer at Cleveland Fire Brigade.

Ball began his firefighting career in 2002 with Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service, serving the Portsmouth and Southampton communities for 12 years. He joined West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service in 2017 as a station manager at Bognor Regis Fire Station.

Over the years, Ball advanced to group manager, working on significant projects such as the service’s improvement plan following an inspection by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS). Additionally, he completed a four-year apprenticeship, earning a BA (Hons) in management, and served as an inspecting officer for HMICFRS for six months.

In his new role, Ball will oversee the service’s operational response and the prevention and protection departments. Expressing his enthusiasm, Ball said, “I am delighted to be appointed as the service’s new assistant chief fire officer. I’m really looking forward to working closely with colleagues across the service, who are incredibly passionate about the work they do, as we continue to build upon the successes that we have already made through our improvement journey.”

His appointment has been well-received by both colleagues and local officials, with Chief Fire Officer Sabrina Cohen-Hatton praising Ball’s extensive knowledge and commitment to the community.