Chief of Department, Michael Carey
Michael Carey is chief of the East Providence Fire Department.
Carey, who has served as Acting Chief since November 18, 2023, has been in fire service for more than 33 years. He served 25 of those years in a supervisory capacity as a fire officer and the last seven years of which, as Chief Officer.
A recipient of the Medal of Valor Service Bar, the National Disaster Response Service Bar, and the Citation Service Bar Star, to name a few, Carey began his career as a firefighter with the East Providence Fire Department in 1990 and has risen through the ranks to Fire Lieutenant, Assistant Fire Marshal, Emergency Medical Services Coordinator, Fire Captain, Battalion Chief and Acting Fire Chief before being appointed Fire Chief.
During his time with the Department, Carey served as a founding member and the first Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Team’s Operations Officer, establishing training and policies to maintain hazardous materials responses capabilities for a 34-member Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Team.
He also wrote, acquired and managed more than $17 million in Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) for equipment, training and fire station construction.
Most recently, Carey was responsible for overseeing the $1.4 million renovation and rollout of the city’s Public Safety Communication Center.
In addition to his duties with the EPFD, Carey currently serves as a member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Association, and the National Fire Protection Association. He also earned the designation of Chief Fire Officer from the Center for Public Safety Excellence’s Commission on Professional Credentialing.
Carey earned his Master of Public Administration degree, with a focus on Fire and Emergency Services (2022), as well as his Bachelor of Science degree in Fire Science (2021) graduating Summa Cum Laude from Anna Maria College.
When he isn’t at the firehouse or out at a scene, you can find Chief Carey spending time with family.