WILTSHIRE'S new fire chief Andy Goves takes up his post at a time when the Government is urging fire brigades across the country to modernise or die.

But Mr Goves, who comes to Wiltshire after 29 years' service in the Buckinghamshire brigade, is confident that the Wiltshire service's reputation for innovation and forward thinking will stand it in good stead when the time comes to address Government demands.

Mr Goves took over from Neil Wright who has retired after more than 30 years in the fire service. He has attended his first fire authority meeting and found it positive.

He said: "Everyone has been extremely welcoming and it is good to work with a board who are all singing from the same hymn sheet.

"The brigade is very people-oriented and in many ways is well ahead of its time, so I am starting from a very sound base."

Members of the fire authority were shown a new vehicle, supplied by the Government, which is designed for chemical, bacteriological or radiological incidents.

The vehicles contain tents with shower and decontamination equipment which can be put up in less than 15 minutes and process 400 exposed people in an hour.

It is being launched at a time of heightened awareness of the threat from international terrorists.

Mr Goves said: "It is all part of the New Dimensions Programme but the Government is at pains to make clear that it is part of an overall approach and it is not to alarm members of the public."

The equipment will therefore be used at the scene of any major incident, such as road or rail crashes involving many injured people.

Mr Goves is one of the most qualified fire chiefs the county has ever had. He has a law degree from the University of Buckingham, an MA and an MSc, all achieved while serving as a full-time fire officer.

He rose from the ranks, joining Buckinghamshire Fire Service in 1974. For two years he was attached to the Fire Service College in Gloucestershire.

In 2001 he won a scholarship to study in Japan and is now a leading authority on how to tackle major fires in large buildings such as warehouses.

He and his wife Nikki are already living at Yatton Keynell, near Chippenham. Their daughter, Sam, is studying history at Warwick University.

The fire authority has also given approval to recruit a new deputy chief fire officer after Phil Appleby, announced his decision to retire next March after 30 years in the fire service.