Fire Chief Lamb to hold a community meet and greet

Peter J. Lamb, who was sworn in as the Town of Johnston’s new Fire Chief back on February 10, wants to meet you.

Lamb, who took over as the JFD’s number one firefighter when former Chief Timothy McLaughlin was named to the prestigious post of Rhode Island State Fire Marshall, has a special message for all residents he’ll deliver next Wednesday evening, May 16 inside the Johnston Senior Center.

The JFD Chief wants to meet as many Johnstonians as possible during what promises to be an educational “Meet and Greet the New Chief” which will include valuable fire safety information for adults.

Next Wednesday’s event, which is believed to be the first of its kind in Johnston, is for adults only – not a children’s program – that will begin at 7 o’clock and encompass a number of subjects within a 60-minute program.

“I want to make myself available to meet and greet the citizens of Johnston,” said Lamb, who is steeped with four decades plus of firefighting experience. “Since my arrival [in early February] we have had four very significant fires; while we’ll not be talking directly about those fires, we’ll touch upon them.”

In those fires, as Lamb pointed out, there was a civilian fatality in one case and in two other cases, people within the building stated they were lucky to get out and then they became disoriented.

The veteran firefighting expert, who is a recognized speaker on firefighting and training throughout the country and once made history in his native Coventry when he rose through the ranks from a volunteer to chief, will speak about four basic facts that most people don’t know about fires.

“Fires are dark and there is no light,” Lamb said. “People underestimate the extreme heat in a fire and there is no time in a fire; the speed is overwhelming. Any amount of smoke has many dangerous toxic products in it.”

By using a short visual slide program, Lamb will explain all of those areas and answer any questions residents may have.

Lamb, who was Mayor Joseph Polisena’s choice to succeed McLaughlin-who enjoyed seven successful years in Johnston-said upon his official swearing in: “I’m humbled and want to thank the Mayor for his great opportunity. I want to continue the good work Chief McLaughlin has done and I look forward to working with the people in the community; it’s going to be an exciting time.”

One such occasion is scheduled for next Wednesday evening when Lamb, who among his many credits and skills is being a highly-successful grant writer in the world of firefighting, holds his unique “Meet and Greet” at the Johnston Senior Center located at 1291 Hartford Avenue.