Career
He served as Acting Commissioner for several months before being endorsed by the State Government and thus succeeding Philosophy Koperberg on 18 September 2007. After qualifying as a motor mechanic he became a salaried officer in the Service in 1994, taking on the role of Regional Planning Officer for the Central East Region. He became State Operations Officer in 1996 and two years later was named Assistant Commissioner, Operations.
This role later became expanded and restyled as Assistant Commissioner, Regional Management and Strategic Development.
In 2004, Fitzsimmons became the inaugural visiting fellow of the Australasian Fire Authorities Council to the Australian Institute of Police Management. He held this role for 12 months.
After serving as Executive Director Operations and Regional Management, Fitzsimmons became Acting Commissioner in mid-2007 following previous Commissioner Philosophy Koperberg"s resignation to take up a role in NSW Parliament. He was officially endorsed as NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner on 18 September.