Peter Lamb named town's new fire chief

He’s steeped with over four decades of fire fighting experiences – from training to management to important grant writing – ever since he came out of high school and became a valuable volunteer before climbing the ladder to the role of chief.

He’s also a recognized speaker on firefighting and training throughout the country.

He’s Peter Lamb, a Coventry native who made history in the Harris Fire District when he became the first EMT, first paid firefighter and climbed the ladder to many successes before he became chief.

Tuesday, in front of a nearly full room inside the Municipal Court House on Atwood Avenue, Lamb was introduced by Mayor Joseph Polisena as Johnston’s new fire chief. He will be sworn in on Saturday morning, Feb. 10, the day after current Chief Tim McLaughlin’s final day on the job after an impressive seven-year career in Johnston.

“As many of you may or may not know, Chief Tim McLaughlin has been elevated to the top fire fighter of our state – that is the Rhode Island Fire Marshall. He was chosen by Governor (Gina) Raimondo to lead the State Fire Marshall’s office and we are so very proud of him.”

McLaughlin, whose appointment is official as of last Friday, is awaiting confirmation by the Rhode Island Senate.

Polisena, who praised McLaughlin who became the second such Johnston employee in recent years to land the a number one position in the state after serving the town as David DeCesare – who now wears Badge Number One in the RI Department of Sheriffs – did as Deputy Chief of the Johnston Police Department.

“I knew that we needed someone who could continue the vast amount of progress that has catapulted the Johnston Fire Department to the top,” Polisena told the audience. “And I know I have picked the leader who will lead the men and women of the JFD into the future and beyond. That leader is our new chief, Peter Lamb.”

The town’s new fire chief, who later admitted he was “humbled by his selection” and “anxious to get started with the fine men and women of the Johnston Fire Department who have an extraordinary high ranking reputation throughout the state”, is described as a Firefighter’s Firefighter.

So much so, in fact, Lamb may the one of only a few – if not the sole person – who became a volunteer with the Harris Fire District immediately following his graduation from Coventry High School in 1976 and later, as noted, became the first paid fire fighter and worked his way through the ranks to the chief’s position.

Polisena explained that he has known Lamb for some 43 years and noted “Back then I knew he would accomplish great things in the fire service as both a firefighter and leader. We have remained close friend and now I am very proud that he will lead our great Johnston Fire Department.”

The mayor also said: “He will have a huge responsibility to the people of our great town, but I know he will handle this job flawlessly – just like he has during an impressive tour of firefighting duty. He will be a huge asset for my administration and our citizens that are protected by the best of the best – the men and women of the JFD.”

Lamb will take over a fire department, Polisena later noted, “with the most dedicated and most professionally trained men and women of any fire department in the state. We also have excellent [fire] equipment in the four stations that blanket our town.”

Polisena, who again thanked Lamb “for taking on this very important but vital position of fires service and EMSA protection for our great town”, has been instrumental in writing grants for training and equipment that is so important for today’s firefighters.”

“I’m humbled and want to thank Mayor Polisena for this great opportunity,” Lamb said. “I want to continue the food work Chief McLaughlin has done and I looked forward to working with the people in the community. It’s going to be an exciting time!”

Perhaps that’s the reason that Lamb, who lost his wife two years ago and doesn’t have any children, enjoyed continuous successes in the Harris Fire District in Coventry, Tiverton Fire Department, Massachusetts Department of Fire Services, Massachusetts Fire Academy, North Attleboro Fire Department and a short stint with the Central Coventry Fire District where he served as chief for 14 months and added stability during difficult and turbulent times.

His skills in Tiverton resulted in enhancing town-wide EMS delivery from private ambulance based BLS to fire based ALS. He became coordinate of 11 levels of certification for firefighters in Massachusetts and enhanced and upgraded the fleet of apparatus in North Attleboro.