Albion and Saylesville taxpayers to decide on fire district merger this spring

Residents of the villages of Albion and Saylesville will head to the polls during a special election this spring to decide whether or not to merge their two fire districts into one. Before the decision is put to the taxpayers, residents of both districts will be able to learn more about the details of consolidation at public informational meetings. Dates for those meetings haven’t been locked in yet, but are expected to take place soon. Once residents are informed about the process, they’ll vote on whether to merge the Albion and Saylesville districts into a single entity called the Lincoln Fire District. Legislation paving the way for the merger was approved by the Rhode Island general assembly last year. According to the bill, the districts have until Dec. 31, 2020 to effectively consolidate, and any extension beyond that date would require General Assembly approval.
Valley Breeze

Coventry Police Investigate Potential HAZMAT Situation

Coventry police were called to a house on Hickory Road Wednesday afternoon for a possible HAZMAT situation. A little before 3 p.m., the department was notified of a chemical smell coming from a camper on the property. Officers search the camper and the property with the help of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the state fire marshal's office. The area was cleared out of an abundance of caution before officials determined that there was no threat or danger to the public. No charges will be filed in connection with the incident. The department went on to thank the Anthony, Hopkins Hill and Central Coventry fire districts, as well as Hope Jackson in Scituate for their help in the investigation.
Coventry Patch

Former director of the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency named full-time FEMA administrator

The former director of the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency (RIEMA), who has been serving as the acting administrator for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for nearly a year, is now officially leading the national agency. On Tuesday, Peter Gaynor was confirmed as FEMA’s new administrator by the U.S. Senate. Gaynor joined FEMA back in October 2018 as deputy administrator after being tapped for the role a few months prior. He then became the acting administrator in March 2019 when former FEMA Administrator Brock Long retired. Acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Chad Wolf said Gaynor has proven himself as an “invaluable leader of the agency.” “I look forward to continuing to work with him to support the men and women of FEMA as they carry out their incredible work,” Wolf said.
WPRI-TV CBS 12 Providence