The text
Footnotes:
--- (3) --- Charter reference— Fire department, art. 8, ch. 3.
State Law reference— Firefighters, G.L. 1956, § 45-18-1 et seq.
DIVISION 1. - GENERALLY#
Secs. 26-41—26-55. - Reserved.#
DIVISION 2. - FIRE CHIEF#
Footnotes:
--- (4) --- Charter reference— Appointment of fire chief, § 8-3-2.
Cross reference— Officers and employees, § 2-201 et seq.
Sec. 26-56. - Qualifications.#
The fire chief of the town, before being appointed to such office, shall possess the following qualifications: (1)
Five years of experience in the rank of lieutenant or above in any full-time organized fire department in the United States.
(2)
Five years of experience in the organization, management, and direction of fire personnel.
(3)
A bachelor's degree or above, including at least 30 credit hours of college-level instruction in firefighting science and administration.
(4)
Successful completion of a complete physical examination at a facility recommended by the town.
(Code 1986, § 6-41; Ch. 675, § 1, 2-25-1991; Ch. 820, § 6.41, 7-1-2002)
Sec. 26-57. - Appointment generally.#
The appointment of a fire chief shall be in accordance with the following provisions: (1)
The vacancy in the office of the fire chief shall be advertised in a newspaper with statewide daily circulations.
(2)
The vacancy shall be posted for a minimum of 21 days.
(3)
The town manager shall appoint a screening committee of at least five members who shall review the qualifications of the candidates.
(Code 1986, § 6-42; Ch. 675, § 2, 2-25-1991; Ch. 820, § 6.42, 7-1-2002)
Sec. 26-58. - Rating of qualifications.#
The screening committee shall recommend the top five qualifiers to the town manager. The town manager shall review the qualifications of and interview the top five qualifiers.
(Code 1986, § 6-43; Ch. 675, § 3, 2-25-1991; Ch. 820, § 6.43, 7-1-2002)
Sec. 26-59. - Selection process.#
The appointment of the fire chief shall be made from among the top five qualifiers of the candidates by the town manager with the advice and consent of the town council. Advice and consent of the town council shall be exercised by a vote of the town council occurring at a public meeting of the town council which has been properly posted in accordance with the open meetings law.
(Code 1986, § 6-44; Ch. 675, § 4, 2-25-1991; Ch. 820, § 6.44, 7-1-2002)
Sec. 26-60. - Residency requirement.#
The person appointed fire chief shall become a resident of the town within 120 days after such appointment, which requirement can be waived by the town council; otherwise, such office shall be forfeited.
(Code 1986, § 6-45; Ch. 675, § 5, 2-25-1991; Ch. 820, § 6.45, 7-1-2002)
Sec. 26-61. - Term, removal and retirement.#
Every appointment of a fire chief made under the provisions of this division shall be considered a permanent appointment, subject, however, to the provisions of removal and retirement provided for by the Charter and ordinances of the town.
(Code 1986, § 6-46)
Secs. 26-62—26-75. - Reserved.#
DIVISION 3. - FIREFIGHTERS#
Footnotes:
--- (5) --- Charter reference— Fire department, art. 8, ch. 3.
Cross reference— Officers and employees, § 2-201 et seq.
State Law reference— Firefighters, G.L. 1956, § 45-18-1 et seq.
Sec. 26-76. - Qualifications for appointment to the fire department.#
(a)
A candidate for initial appointment to the fire department, excluding the fire chief, must meet the following minimum qualifications:
(1)
Must be a citizen of the United States;
(2)
Must possess a four-year high school diploma or an equivalent general education diploma (GED);
(3)
Must be between the ages of 18 and 35 at time of hire;
(4)
Vision must be not less than 20/30 correctable to 20/20 and must be able to distinguish colors;
(5)
Must have a valid unrestricted motor vehicle operator's license upon appointment;
(6)
Must have obtained a valid entry level firefighter written exam score through the Rhode Island Association of Fire Chiefs (RIAFC);
(7)
Must have an updated valid physical performance assessment (PPA) test certificate as recognized and/or administered by the Rhode Island Association of Fire Chiefs (RIAFC);
(8)
Must possess and present at minimum a Rhode Island Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) license or be currently enrolled in an approved RIDOH EMT course.
(b)
Candidates who meet the above minimum qualifications must successfully complete and agree to the following requirements prior to official appointment as a firefighter:
(1)
Medical tests. Applicant must undergo and pass medical/psychological testing. Applicant will be rejected for any medical, physical or psychological condition which impairs their ability to perform the duties of the position in a reasonable manner, or which may reasonably be expected to render them unfit to continue to perform those duties in a reasonable manner. Applicants will also be required to pass any additional physical performance assessment tests the town may require.
(2)
Written test. All applicants must pass a written examination designed for an entry level firefighter position. Minimum passing score is 70 percent (weight will be 65 percent of total score).
(3)
Interviewing oral board. A minimum of the top 15 successful candidates who have passed the written examination, medical screenings and any additional performance assessment tests required by the town shall be subjected to a three-person interviewing oral board. (Weight will be 35 percent of total score.) Nothing contained in this shall prohibit the town from including more than 15 candidates to the oral board.
(4)
Character and background. Applicant must submit a full bureau of criminal investigation (BCI) report. Proof of good character and satisfactory background will be an absolute prerequisite to appointment. Candidates will be required to submit appropriate waivers of any confidential information so that investigating officers can conduct a full and complete background investigation.
(5)
Post-conditional employment offer. Candidates must agree to the terms and conditions of a recruit letter of understanding.
(Code 1986, § 6-61; Ch. 786, § 1, 8-2-1999; Ord. No. 1004, § 1, 10-20-2014; Ch. 1139, § 1, 9-15-2025)
Secs. 26-77, 26-78. - Reserved.#
Editor's note— Ord. No. 1004, § 1, adopted Oct. 20, 2014, repealed §§ 26-77 and 26-78, which pertained to application process and interviews by oral board, and derived from Code 1986, §§ 6-62, 6-63; Ch. 786, § 2, 8-2-1999. For current provisions, see § 26-76.
Sec. 26-79. - Ranking and list of eligible candidates.#
An eligibility list of successful candidates will be established according to the following: (1)
Written examination— 65 percent
(2)
Interviewing oral board—35 percent
(3)
Additional earned credits (20 points maximum)
a.
Resident of town (minimum of two years)—two points
b.
Previous volunteer experience as a firefighter and/or EMT (minimum two years along with a letter of good standing from an active fire chief and/or director)—two points
c.
Active military or veteran (minimum of two consecutive years of honorable active duty)—two points
d.
Licensed Rhode Island Advanced EMT-Cardiac level or higher (current and valid)—two points
e.
Minimum 60 credit hours—College/university level courses—two points
f.
Actively employed as a full-time paid professional firefighter in good standing and possess Rhode Island Pro-Board or International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) Firefighter 1001 levels 1 and 2 certifications - 10 points
(4)
Medical/psychological screening—Pass/fail
(5)
Drug testing—Pass/fail
(6)
Character and background investigation—Pass/fail
(7)
Personal interview by chief of fire department, executive officer, and director of public safety—Pass/fail
A candidate has the right to appeal on any part of the testing procedure to the chief of the department and the public safety director. Their decision will be final.
(Code 1986, § 6-64; Ch. 862, § 1, 7-5-2005; Ch. 971, § 1, 10-15-2012; Ord. No. 1004, § 1, 10-20-2014; Ch. 1139, § 1, 9-15-2025)
Sec. 26-80. - Appointments from list of eligible candidates.#
The fire chief, with the approval of the director of public safety, will select whom to appoint from the top five candidates and will be subject to the hiring practices as set forth by the town charter and ordinances of the town. Each eligibility list shall remain in effect for a minimum of one year or until such time the list has been exhausted or at the discretion of the town.
(Code 1986, § 6-65; Ord. No. 1004, § 1, 10-20-2014; Ch. 1139, § 1, 9-15-2025)
Secs. 26-81—26-95. - Reserved.#
DIVISION 4. - CALL PERSON FIREFIGHTING FORCE#
Sec. 26-96. - Purpose of division.#
There is hereby created an organization of residents within the fire department whose purpose is to augment the fire department in the performance of their assigned duties.
(Code 1986, § 6-76)
Sec. 26-97. - Title of division.#
The organization shall be called the Narragansett Call Fire Fighters (NaCFF).
(Code 1986, § 6-77)
Sec. 26-98. - Employment classification.#
Each member of the NaCFF shall be classified as a temporary or part-time employee working an average of less than 20 hours per week. The provisions of the personnel ordinance (chapter 54 of this Code) shall not apply.
(Code 1986, § 6-78)
Sec. 26-99. - Compensation.#
Each member of the NaCFF shall be compensated for each response when called to duty by the fire chief. The amount of such compensation per response shall be established by town council resolution.
(Code 1986, § 6-79)
Sec. 26-100. - Organization.#
(a)
A foreman, who is a member of the NaCFF shall be annually elected by the membership and upon the approval of the fire chief, shall be the individual in administrative charge of all members of the NaCFF.
(b)
Those members of the NaCFF assigned to each neighborhood fire station shall annually elect one of its members to represent their group. These first foremen along with the foreman shall meet quarterly with the fire chief and the director of public safety to review the performance of the NaCFF and to propose ways in which fire protection and prevention may be improved throughout the town.
(c)
A summary of these meetings shall be included in the annual report of the fire department.
(Code 1986, § 6-80)
Sec. 26-101. - Neighborhood fire stations.#
The boundaries of the neighborhood fire stations are as follows: (1)
Station 1, Pier Station.
a.
North boundary. Intersection of Boston Neck Road and Old Boston Neck Road at Namcook Farms.
b.
South boundary. Foddering Farm Road and Windemere Road.
(2)
Station 2, Point Judith Station.
a.
North boundary. South boundary of Station 1.
b.
South boundary. The Atlantic Ocean and Salt Pond.
(3)
Station 3, Boston Neck Station.
a.
North boundary. North Kingstown town line.
b.
South boundary. North boundary of Station 1.
(Code 1986, § 6-81)
Sec. 26-102. - Roster.#
Each neighborhood fire station shall have on its roster a maximum of 30 call firefighters residing within the boundaries of such fire station; provided, however, that the chief of the fire department may assign other members of the NaCFF to a specific neighborhood station if it is found to be in the best interest of the town.
(Code 1986, § 6-82)
Sec. 26-103. - Qualifications and initial appointment.#
(a)
All individuals requesting initial appointment to the NaCFF shall:
(1)
Be a resident of the town;
(2)
Be at least 18 years of age at time of application;
(3)
Possess a valid active state driver's license;
(4)
Successfully pass a complete physical examination, including a back X-ray conducted by the police surgeon of the town.
(b)
The director of public safety, upon the recommendation of the fire chief shall appoint all individuals to the NaCFF. Such appointments shall be probationary for a period of one year, and the oath of office shall be administered by the town clerk at a regularly scheduled town council meeting. Each individual so appointed shall receive a certificate of membership in the NaCFF and a fire plate for his automobile.
(Code 1986, § 6-83)
Sec. 26-104. - Permanent appointment.#
All members of the NaCFF upon satisfactorily completing their probationary period shall be appointed regular members of the organization.
(Code 1986, § 6-84)
Sec. 26-105. - Chain of command.#
The chain of command shall consist of the following in descending order: (1)
Operations. Fire chief, duty lieutenant, senior permanent firefighter, foreman, first foreman and senior member of NaCFF present;
(2)
Administrative. Director of public safety, fire chief, foreman and first foreman of NaCFF.
(Code 1986, § 6-85)
Sec. 26-106. - Membership.#
All probationary members of the NaCFF shall serve at the pleasure of the fire chief. With respect to regular members, any insubordination, violation of the provisions of this division or the rules and regulations of the fire department as adopted by the council or conduct unbecoming a member of the fire service shall be deemed grounds for immediate revocation of a member's appointment by the director of public safety upon the recommendation of the fire chief.
(Code 1986, § 6-86)
Sec. 26-107. - Training sessions.#
Training sessions shall be conducted under the supervision of the fire department's training officer on a regularly scheduled monthly basis. Additional drills may be conducted with the approval of the training officer.
(Code 1986, § 6-87)
Sec. 26-108. - Insurance.#
All members of the NaCFF who are injured on duty or who have personal property broken or destroyed in the performance of their duties shall be covered by the town medical and liability insurance policies then in effect.
(Code 1986, § 6-88)
Sec. 26-109. - Equipment.#
All equipment issued to a member of the NaCFF by the fire department shall remain in the property of the fire department and shall be returned immediately upon the request of the fire chief.
(Code 1986, § 6-89)
Sec. 26-110. - Driver operator.#
Driver operators shall be certified to drive and operate the respective fire apparatus and equipment assigned to their neighborhood fire stations within one year of the effective date of this ordinance from which this section derives.
(Code 1986, § 6-90)
Sec. 26-111. - Resignation.#
Any member of the NaCFF wishing to resign must do so in writing and forward same to the chief of the fire department along with any equipment that may have been assigned to him through the chain of command.
(Code 1986, § 6-91)