Chief_Ed

In the beginning...
Several months after I moved into my town, a devastating fire nearly destroyed one of the local restaurants. This led me to think about the people who actually fight the fires. I knew we had a volunteer fire department in town and I felt I should look into how I could help. Shortly thereafter, in September 1991, I was a probationary firefighter on the local fire department. I attended training drills weekly and signed up for as much formal training as I could get. It wasn’t long before I was an EMT, as well.
After about 7 years I was given the position of Safety Officer. Then I was promoted to Fire Lieutenant, followed by Fire Captain. While Captain, I completed the Fire Investigator/Inspector coursework and was named the local Fire Marshal (technically the Assistant Deputy State Fire Marshal) and finally, in 2005 I was elected Fire Chief.
Being chosen by the members of the Department to be their Chief was one of the proudest moments I've had on the Department.
Now, as the Retired Chief, I help out when I can with developing SOPs/SOGs, revising the company By-Laws, and conducting some occasional training sessions.
Like many of you, I have performed all the tasks required of a Fire Department member including dispatching, planning, organizing, and executing drills, simulations, and actual calls of various sizes and focuses. I've participated in the successful extinguishments of brush fires, car fires, garage fires, dreaded mill fires, room and contents fires, attic fires, the always dangerous cellar fires, and fully involved residential structure fires. I have performed all tasks including inspections and investigations commiserate with positions of Safety Officer, Fire Lieutenant, Fire Captain, and most recently, Fire Marshal.
Sadly, during my years on the department, I also attended many funerals. I marched in Worcester for the fallen of December 3rd, 1999. On the first anniversary of the World Trade Center attack, my oldest son and I traveled to Ground Zero for the tribute to the 3000 fallen including the 343 firefighters who gave their lives that day.
I was not able to go to South Carolina this past summer for the tribute to the Charleston 9, but in August we (Rhode Island) share the National Fire Academy weekend training with both Delaware and South Carolina, and there was a special service for the 9 fallen brothers. The service was held at the National Fallen Firefighter’s Memorial right on the campus of FEMA Headquarters.
It has been my honor to be the guest speaker for the past two years at the Northern League Annual Firefighter's Memorial Services.
In the words of Fire Chief Ed Croker (FDNY) “I have no ambition in this world but one, and that is to be a fireman.” He originally spoke these words about a hundred years ago, but who among us in the Fire Service today wouldn't agree with him?!.. ..