London Fire Brigade’s first female Commissioner Dany Cotton announces retirement citing 'disaster' of Grenfell fire

London’s first female fire commissioner Dany Cotton will retire next year, citing the utter devastation of Grenfell Tower fire which she said “will never leave me”.

Ms Cotton, 50, the service’s first ever female commissioner, said she will retire in April 2020, having worked with “the best people” and faced “some of the most painful incidents.”

Days after the two-year anniversary of the Grenfell Tower fire, in which 72 people died, the 50-year-old said the impact of the tragedy would remain with her always.

She said: “The utter devastation of the Grenfell Tower fire and its impact on so many people will never leave me.

“I want to reassure my staff and all those affected by the tragedy that I will remain dedicated to leading London Fire Brigade through any findings from phase one of the Public Inquiry and into phase two which is expected to begin next January," she added, referring to the ongoing public investigation into what caused the devastating 2017 apartment block blaze.

"I will remain dedicated."

The Commissioner celebrated her time in the post, saying: “I have worked with the best people in the world on some of the most exciting projects, and also some of the most painful incidents to have occurred in London Fire Brigade’s history.”

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan called her “inspiring” and a “true role model”.

He said: “Dany Cotton’s hard work, courage and dedication during her 32 years of service at London Fire Brigade and as London’s Fire Commissioner has been inspiring.

“She is a true role model - and I wish her the very best in retirement when she leaves the brigade next year.”

In September, Cotton told the Grenfell inquiry she would not change anything about the way the brigade responded to the disaster, in testimony that angered survivors and the bereaved.

She said it would have been impossible to prepare for the disaster because the way the building behaved was so unexpected. “I wouldn’t develop a training package for a space shuttle landing on the Shard,” she told the inquiry.

Instead she mounted a defence of her firefighters, saying: “Without exception my firefighters and my officers and my control staff performed in a fantastic way given the incredible circumstances they faced. They were put in an untenable situation in a building that behaved in a way it should never have done.”

She arrived at Grenfell at 2.49am on the night of the fire, 14 June 2017, by which time the blaze was out of control. She told the inquiry it looked like a scene from the film The Towering Inferno.

Speaking after informing London mayor Sadiq Khan and deputy mayor for fire and resilience Fiona Twycross of her decision to retire, Ms Cotton told of her determination to break down gender boundaries within the fire service.

“When I joined London Fire Brigade, I was one of a handful of women in the service,” she explained.

“It was a very different organisation, with very different attitudes, and I hope that through my work I have helped change the perception of what an incredible professional career the fire and rescue service offers, equally, to both women and men.”

The 50-year -old sparked a national debate after she criticised children's TV shows Fireman Sam and Peppa Pig for encouraging gender stereotypes.

Ms Cotton argued terms like "fireman" instead of "firefighter" discouraged women from joining the Fire Brigade.

Government statistics show 5.2 per cent of firefighters in England were women in 2017.

Mr Khan praised Ms Cotton for being a "role model" and for her years of commitment and bravery.

He said: “I would like to pay tribute to Dany for her hard work, courage and dedication during her 32 years of service at London Fire Brigade and as London’s Fire Commissioner.

“Dany has led the London Fire Brigade through an unprecedented period of major incidents, including the awful Grenfell Tower tragedy, and has proven time and again that she is a truly exceptional firefighter.

“I‘m sure all Londoners would like to join me in thanking her for doing everything she can to keep our city safe.

“She is a true role model who has broken down barriers for women in London and inspired people who wouldn’t otherwise have considered being firefighters to join the Fire Brigade.

“I wish her the very best in retirement when she leaves the Brigade next year.”

Her colleague Ms Twycross further honoured the Commissioner, saying: “It has been a privilege and an honour to work so closely with Dany in recent years, and I have seen at first hand just what an inspirational firefighter and leader she truly is.

“Dany has led the Brigade through some very difficult times for our city and deserves enormous recognition for her heroism, determination and bravery when Londoners needed it the most.”

The Fire Brigade said plans to appoint a new Commissioner are not yet final, given Ms Cotton’s early notice.