Ben Ryder's in line to be Cumbria's fire chief for good, with a hearing on 3 November Ben Ryder named preferred candidate to be Cumbria's chief fire officer
Marra Mode is how we'd tell you this in the Co-op. Switch it off for the straight version.
The man running Cumbria Fire and Rescue since June, Ben Ryder, has been picked to take the top job for good, as long as a panel signs it off on 3 November.
This one's for everybody in Cumbria who counts on the fire service, and that includes the stations at Workington, Whitehaven, Maryport and Egremont.
Ben Ryder's been picked as the preferred choice for Chief Fire Officer of Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service by the county's Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, David Allen, the Whitehaven News says. A proper appointments panel, chaired by Mr Allen, made the choice, with someone from the National Fire Chiefs Council and an independent member on it.
Mr Ryder came to Cumbria from Merseyside in summer 2025 as Assistant Chief Fire Officer, and he's been the temporary chief since June, when the last boss said he was stepping down after decades in the job. Before that he was in the RAF's fire and rescue service, then joined Merseyside in 2001, worked his way up and led their biggest ever building project, a new training centre and national resilience centre.
Mr Allen said: "He has extensive operational experience commanding some of the most high-profile major incidents in recent memory." He said Mr Ryder had shown he's committed to Cumbria by chairing the Local Resilience Forum and moving his young family to Penrith, and added: "He will, I am certain, ensure that Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service go from strength to strength."
It's not a done deal yet. The Police, Fire and Crime Panel, councillors plus independent members, will hold a hearing to confirm it on Tuesday 3 November.
What you can do: the panel meets in public and puts its papers online beforehand, so you can have a read or follow the hearing yourself.
Cumbria's Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner David Allen has put forward temporary chief Ben Ryder as his preferred candidate for Chief Fire Officer, with a confirmation hearing on Tuesday 3 November.
This is for everyone in Cumbria who relies on the county's fire and rescue service, including the stations in Workington, Whitehaven, Maryport and Egremont.
Ben Ryder has been named as the preferred candidate for Chief Fire Officer of Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service by Cumbria's Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, David Allen, the Whitehaven News reports. The choice followed a formal process led by an appointments panel chaired by Mr Allen, which included a representative from the National Fire Chiefs Council and an independent member.
Mr Ryder joined Cumbria from Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service in summer 2025 as Assistant Chief Fire Officer, and has been Temporary Chief Fire Officer since June, when the previous chief announced he was stepping down after decades of service. He served in the Royal Air Force Fire and Rescue Service before joining Merseyside in 2001, where he rose through the ranks and led the service's largest ever capital project, a new training and development centre and national resilience centre.
Mr Allen said: "He has extensive operational experience commanding some of the most high-profile major incidents in recent memory." He added that Mr Ryder had shown commitment to Cumbria by chairing the Local Resilience Forum and moving his young family to Penrith, and said: "He will, I am certain, ensure that Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service go from strength to strength."
The appointment is not final yet. The Police, Fire and Crime Panel, made up of councillors and independent members, will hold a confirmation hearing on Tuesday 3 November.
What you can do: Police, Fire and Crime Panel meetings are held in public, and papers are published in advance on the panel's web pages, so you can read the report or follow the hearing.