Jeremy Fewtrell is the new Commissioner of Fire and Rescue NSW, overseeing 7,000 firefighters and a network of 335 stations.

Commissioner Fewtrell has been acting in the role since the departure of his predecessor Paul Baxter.

Announcing Mr Baxter’s departure in July, emergency services minister Jihad Dib said it was time to bring in new leadership to guide FRNSW into the future and address “ongoing challenges of financial sustainability and organisational direction”.

Commissioner Fewtrell joined the organisation as a firefighter in 1997 and spent 17 years working on the frontlines and serving as a station officer and inspector in metropolitan and regional units.

He progressed to management and most recently served as deputy commissioner of field operations where he led the emergency response to the Greta bus crash near Newcastle and played a key role in the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires and 2022 floods.

Mr Dib said Commissioner Fewtrell was a highly accomplished emergency services leader with 25 years experience at FRNSW.

“He has shown his leadership and management abilities time and again, both in high-pressure scenarios and in peacetime, and has proven he is ready to take the helm of this critical first response agency,” the minister said in a statement.

“I look forward to working with the new Commissioner closely to … ensure this vital service is strong and sustainable into the future.”

Commissioner Fewtrell said his appointment was “a dream come true”.

“Every four minutes, a FRNSW truck is rolling out the door to an emergency,” he said.

“My intention and direction is to ensure those men and women are supported with the best training, equipment and systems from across our organisation to ensure we can deliver on our mission to protect the irreplaceable in the community, whenever and wherever we are needed.”