Meet Cranston’s 20th Fire Chief, Robert Ryan

Photo: City of Cranston – Cranston Mayor Ken Hopkins leading Chief Robert Ryan in reciting the oath of office.  

Mayor Kenneth J. Hopkins administered the oath of office to Cranston’s new Fire Chief Robert Ryan in a ceremony held in the Cranston High School East auditorium on February 27th.

Ryan was installed as twentieth fire chief in the one-hundred-year history of the fire department. The swearing ceremony took place before members of the Ryan family, elected officials, fellow fire chiefs from across the state, and numerous current and former members of the Cranston Fire Department. Ryan’s wife, Jane, pinned the new chief’s badge on his uniform after Mayor Hopkins swore the chief into his new post. 

The Mayor’s nomination of Ryan was given unanimous approval by the City Council on Monday evening. Mayor Hopkins in his remarks praised Ryan’s long tenure with the department and welcomed him to lead Cranston’s fire and emergency medical service personnel. 

“His experience across all divisions and stations in our city made my selection of Bob Ryan as our Chief, a comfortable one,” Hopkins said. “Ryan is a firefighter’s firefighter.”

Ryan in his remarks thanked Mayor Hopkins for his confidence and for the honor of leading Cranston’s fire personnel. He shared his travels through the department during his thirty-six years of service and experience across the varied divisions and tasks of firefighting.

Robert Ryan started with the Cranston Fire Department in January of 1988 and rose through the ranks while serving across the city at various stations. He became a Deputy Chief in January 2019, and was responsible for commanding one half of the city with direct supervision of personnel in Stations 1, 2 and 3. He now will lead the 196 firefighters and 15 civilians of the department and oversee its $37 million budget. 

“I am confident that Chief Ryan will capably lead while ensuring that the citizens of Cranston continue to be served in all fire and emergency calls by Cranston’s dedicated first responders,” Hopkins said.

Fire Chief Ryan succeeds James Warren who retired in December. Warren attended the ceremony along with former Fire Chiefs William McKenna, Stephen MacIntosh, Anthony Mastantuono to honor their former colleague. Police Colonel Michael Winquist also attended to recognize his new public safety service colleague.

Ryan resides in Scituate with his wife, and they are the proud parents of three adult children.