Deputy Commissioner Charlie Pugsley is calling time on his London Fire Brigade career this month after nearly three decades on the frontline. He is stepping up as interim chief executive at the Building Safety Regulator (BSR), where he will continue fighting for safer buildings.
Pugsley began his firefighting journey in 1996 at stations across London, including Bow, Shoreditch, Stratford, and Peckham. He quickly moved into fire investigation roles at New Cross and Dowgate, leading probes into some of the city’s deadliest blazes.
Notably, Pugsley was the on-site forensic lead during the Grenfell Tower fire investigation. He also led the inquiry into the 2015 Kingsway tunnel fire, a disaster caused by an electrical fault that ignited a gas main, resulting in a major blaze within London’s Victorian tunnels.
Beyond his fire investigation expertise, Pugsley has been a key figure during major emergencies in London. He confronted wildfires in the summer of 2022 and managed the response to the destruction caused by Storm Eunice. One memorable incident involved a boat fire on a London creek—a floating art space made from a disused minesweeper. Despite gas cylinders exploding, no serious injuries were reported. Reflecting on this, Pugsley said, “It was one of the toughest calls I’ve faced. You don’t live an ordinary life in this role.”
In addition to his frontline work, Pugsley has championed fire safety reforms. His recent efforts include the #Chargesafe campaign, addressing the increasing fire risks posed by lithium batteries in e-bikes and e-scooters. “I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved at LFB,” he stated. “Since 2017, working with top experts and engineers, we’ve driven down fire risks in buildings.”
London Fire Brigade Commissioner Jonathan Smith paid tribute to Pugsley’s remarkable service: “Charlie is the consummate professional. His expertise shaped our fire investigation, prevention, and protection work. As deputy commissioner, his leadership was outstanding.”
“He’s deeply respected across the brigade. We’ll miss him, but we know he’ll shine at the Building Safety Regulator. We wish him every success.”
Originally published by UKNIP.
