Harrisville Fire Dept. swears in new chief
Longtime deputy chief Gingell named to post
BURRILLVILLE — Veteran firefighter Michael E. Gingell is officially the new chief of the Harrisville Fire Department.
Gingell, the department’s longtime deputy chief, was recently sworn in at a ceremony at the Assembly Theater, where friends, family members and colleagues in the fire service came out to see Gingell’s wife, Brenda, and daughters, Amanda Gingell and Stacey Richard, pin his new badge and collar pins.
Gingell, 60, was appointed by the Harrisville Fire District Operating Committee to oversee the department in April. He succeeds former longtime Harrisville Fire Chief Mark St. Pierre, who separated from the position, but remains as the department’s chief emeritus.
“I am humbled and honored to be given the opportunity to lead this department,” Gingell said. “I will continue the work to move the department and the fire district forward and working with men and women of the department and members of the community to provide the best service possible.”
Attending the swearing-in ceremony was Frank Brown, president of the Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Association; Jason Rhodes, chief of the Rhode Island Center for Emergency Medical Services; Lt. Michael Dutilly, president of Harrisville Firefighters Association Local 4910; and William Callanan, a retired North Smithfield firefighter who led the bagpipe procession.
Ronald Slocum, chairman of the Harrisville Fire District Operating Committee, administered the oath of office, and Norman C. Mainville, master of ceremonies, offered the welcoming remarks.
Also attending was a delegation from the Burrillville Police Department and the chiefs of the other fire districts in town, including Pascoag Fire Chief Harold Carter, Oakland-Mapleville Fire Chief Joseph E. Bertholic, Nasonville Fire Chief Joseph Bourquin and Wallum
“I am humbled and honored to be given the opportunity to lead this department. I will continue the work to move the department and the fiRE DISTRICT FORWARD AND WORKING WITH MEN AND WOMEN OF the department and members OF THE COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE the best service possible.”
—New Harrisville Fire Chief Michael Gingell, above
Lake Fire Chief Robert Bishop. A large contingent of firefighters and EMTs from the surrounding area were also on hand.
The department’s chaplain, Rev. David Thurber of St. Theresa’s Church in Pawtucket, gave the opening prayer, and the Rev. Bernard O’Reilly, pastor emeritus of St. Patrick’s Church in Harriville, gave the closing prayer.
Gingell has been a member of the Harrisville Fire Department for more than 40 years. Born and raised in the village of Harrisville, Gingell He joined the Harrisville Hose Co. #1 as a junior firefighter on Aug. 5, 1974, and was promoted to full membership on May 2, 1977. He is a graduate of the Burrillville High School Class of 1976.
On Sept. 14, 1987, he began to work full-time for the Harrisville Fire District. He is a certified Level I and II firefighter, and advanced Emergency Medical Technician (cardiac level), along with several other firefighter and EMS certifications.
Gingell has received numerous commendations and awards over the past four decades as a firefighter. He has risen through the ranks within the Harrisville Fire Department, serving as rescue lieutenant, fire lieutenant, captain, assistant chief and deputy chief.
He also serves on the board of directors for the Burrillville Housing Authority, works as an emergency dispatcher for the Town of Burrillville, and is a member with the R.I. Local Assistance State Team, National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Association. He also plays an active role in many organizations such as the Northern Rhode Island Firefighters League and the Rhode Island State Firefighters League.
In addition to his wife and daughters, he has three grandchildren, Aliza and Devin Richard and Kennadie Piccardi.
He is a third-generation firefighter with the department, following in the footsteps of his grandfather and father, the late Lawrence “Larry” F. Gingell, Sr., a Harrisville firefighter who died in the line of duty on Jan. 30, 1986.
Gingell’s daughter, Amanda, an EMT and safety officer for the department, represents the fourth generation of the Gingell family to serve in the fire service.
The Harrisville Fire Department is a combination fire department made up primarily by volunteer members augmented by a small career staff. The department responds to an average of 300 fire calls and 600 emergency medical calls per year. The department includes a fire chief, deputy chief, two captains, five lieutenants, a safety officer and 30 firefighters. The department operates out of one station on Callahan School Street, utilizing two engine companies, one ladder company, two transporting rescues, and multiple brush and support vehicles.
The Harrisville Hose Company is the social aspect of the Fire Department. The Hose Company was organized in February of 1912 as a firefighting organization. Today the company supports various community activities within the Town of Burrillville and the village of Harrisville.
Gingell says one of his goals as chief is to recruit and retain more volunteers.
For many rural fire departments around the country, recruiting and retaining volunteer firefighters is a difficult and continuing challenge, Gingell says.
The number of volunteers in the U.S. hit a low in 2011, with 756,400, compared to 897,750 in 1984, according to the National Volunteer Fire Council. While there’s been a slight increase since then, it hasn’t kept up with the number of calls firefighters respond to, the council found.
“One of the reasons the number of volunteer firefighters has decreased is because of changes in lifestyle,” Gingell said. “In addition, costs are soaring and training requirements have intensified.”