Vic: Fire chief insists decision to quit was his own

AAP General News (Australia)
04-23-2010
Vic: Fire chief insists decision to quit was his own

Victoria's chief fire officer RUSSELL REES insists it was his own decision to quit
.. and he wasn't forced out by the torrent of criticism about his leadership on Black
Saturday.

Three months before the Bushfires Royal Commission delivers its findings into last
year's fires which killed 173 people .. Mr REES today announced he's quitting as head
of the Country Fire Authority in June.

The royal commission's already delivered damning criticism of Mr REES .. saying in
its interim report last August that he failed to protect people on Black Saturday.

But he says he's going now so the future of the CFA is assured.

AAP RTV ees/pmu/wf

KEYWORD: REES (MELBOURNE)

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