Middletown Seeks Public Input On New Fire Chief

MIDDLETOWN, RI — Middletown is looking for a new fire chief amid an ongoing and often contentious debate about staffing levels in the department. Now the town is looking for input from residents on what it wants to see in the next chief and for the future of the department.

Middletown is asking for input from residents and local businesses on the qualities and characteristics preferable in the next chief. Suggestions can be sent to MiddletownFCRecruitment@mrigov.com.

Former Middletown Fire Chief Peter Faerber announced his resignation earlier this month amid the tensions that flared up when two were injured in a New Year's Eve fire on Woolsey Road. Faerber acknowledged the dispute, which led to a contentious public meeting on Jan. 7, factored into his retirement decision. His final day was slated to be Feb. 14.

Faerber, a 23-year veteran of the department, appeared to get caught in the middle of the recent debate on the department's staffing. The firefighters union renewed its call for a 25 percent increase of staff after a father and his daughter were injured in the Woolsey Road fire that the Newport Fire Department was the first to respond to with mutual aid as the Middletown fire personnel on duty were all tied up with a medical call.

More than 100 people gathered on Jan. 7 to voice their opinions on staffing levels at the Middletown Fire Department. Rhode Island State Association of Fire Firefighters President Joseph Andriole spoke at that meeting and issued a statement the next morning stating: "It was a surreal and unnerving experience to see the (Middletown) Town Council's reaction toward the community that came out for answers. The Town Council made it abundantly clear that they didn't want to deal with this crisis."

Council President Robert Sylvia told those attending that meeting that the council's objective is to keep fire and police staffing at safe levels.

"Ensuring we have enough firefighters and police officers is our highest priority," he told the crowd, adding that staffing is reviewed on a yearly basis.

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