The Rhode Island Southern Firefighter’s league held a swearing in of officers at the Richmond Country Club on Monday. June 25th. Long serving President Fred Stanley, Retired Chief of the Hope Valley-Wyoming Fire District passed the gavel after over 20 years to his Vice President, Nathan Barrington, Chief of the Kingston Fire District. In addition to President Barrington, the 2018 League officers sworn in include Vice President Robert Peacock, Chief of the Watch Hill Fire Department, Treasurer Justin Lee, Chief of the Hope Valley Wyoming Fire District, Secretary Christopher Koretski, Lieutenant of the Watch Hill Fire Department, and Director Scott Barber, Chief of the Richmond Carolina Fire Department.

State Representative Kathy Fogarty (D-South Kingstown) was on hand to swear in the newly elected officers. Representative Fogarty was recently the recipient of the League’s “Legislator of the Year” award this past January and has been an avid supporter of the volunteer fire service in Rhode Island. She was instrumental in the past year in assisting the fire service in Rhode Island in making changes to state debt programs effecting local fire districts.

President Stanley’s last act in office was to forward a motion to make a donation of $5,000 on behalf of the league to the Rhode Island Fire Chief’s Foundation for the building of the new Rhode Island Firefighter’s memorial on the grounds of the Rhode Island Fire Academy in Exeter. The Rhode Island Association of Fire Chief’s President, Frank Brown, the Chief of the Hopkins Hill and Central Coventry Fire Departments, thanked the members of the league for their generosity and mentioned that name recognition of the league on the memorial will highlight the good work and generosity of the Southern League for generations of firefighters to come.

The Rhode Island Southern Firefighter’s League is made up of twenty-three fire & ambulance departments from Kent & Washington counties as well as several associate & business members. The league was founded in 1954 for the purpose of mutual aid between communities and radio
Communications. That mission holds true today and has expanded to include support of regional specialized teams such as the Hope Valley Regional Hazardous Materials Team, the Kingston Regional Decontamination Team and the Westerly Regional Trench Rescue Team. In addition, the league also sponsors training multiple times a year on a variety of topics for its members.