Chief Fire Officer (Currently Absent)
Peter is the Chief Fire Officer for Cleveland Fire Brigade and joined in August 2024, bringing with him over two decades of fire service experience. Peter is responsible for strategic leadership of the organisation and providing a clear sense of purpose and direction.
Peter grew up in Croydon and embarked on his fire service career at the age of 18, joining London Fire Brigade in 2001. Peter worked across multiple stations in London and started his career at Brixton Fire Station. Peter has also worked across different departments and held various leadership roles. He rose to the position of Deputy Assistant Commissioner and Head of Operational Risk in 2019.
After 20 years, Peter joined West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service as Assistant Chief Officer, where he was responsible for prevention, protection, response, and the West Sussex County Council Resilience and Emergencies Team. During his time in West Sussex, Peter actively participated in charitable initiatives to raise funds for The Fire Fighters Charity, including the Hunted Challenge and Ashes to Art, where his former firefighting helmet was transformed into artwork. Peter was also the acting Deputy Chief Fire Officer for West Sussex immediately prior to joining Cleveland Fire Brigade as Chief Fire Officer.
Outside of work, Peter is a proud husband and father of three daughters. He has a strong interest in fire rescue service history and horology (the study of watches and timekeeping). Peter considers it a privilege to lead Cleveland Fire Brigade, and he is excited about the challenges and opportunities ahead as he continues to serve the communities of Teesside and protect our local communities.
Interim Chief Fire Officer – Simon Weastell
Simon was born in Middlesbrough and was educated and worked in Teesside, before starting his career with Cleveland Fire Brigade as an On Call Firefighter in 1993 and joining wholetime in 1995.
He worked at multiple Fire Stations, attaining promotion to different roles before moving into an On Call Officer Support role. He subsequently has worked in various departments including prevention, response, technical support and training, alongside leading a number of projects. He was promoted to Assistant Chief Fire Officer in 2024, overseeing Service Delivery including response, prevention, protection, training and policy & planning. In April 2026, he was appointed Interim Chief Fire Officer.
Meet our Fire Authority Chair
Councillor David Coupe was appointed as Cleveland Fire Authority Chair in June 2023.
Councillor Coupe represents Stainton & Thornton Ward for the Conservative Party
Click here to learn more about our Fire Authority members, meetings and reports.
Our Organisational Structure
Our organisation is split into two key directorates, Strategic Planning and Resources and Community Protection.
Click the link below to view our Organisational Structure chart:
Click the link below to view details of our pay structure:
