Enfield Fire District No. 1 is pleased to announce that Chief Edward N. Richards was inducted into the Connecticut State Firefighters Association’s 2020 Hall of Fame.
On Thursday, Sept. 23, Chief Richards was one of ten honorees inducted into the Connecticut State Firefighters Association’s 2020 Hall of Fame at a ceremony at the Aqua Turf Club in Southington. The ceremony was originally planned for 2020 but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Along with the 2020 honorees, six members were also inducted at the ceremony as members of the 2021 Hall of Fame.
The Connecticut State Firefighters Association’s Hall of Fame recognizes present and former members of an organized fire department who have served both their fire department, county and/or state-wide fire service organizations above and beyond normal expectations, over an extended period of time. Inductees shall have demonstrated both leadership and motivation, for the betterment of the fire service, throughout Connecticut and the United States. These persons shall have contributed, in a positive way, to the enrichment of the organizations that they represented.
Chief Richards has served the Enfield Fire District No.1, with distinction, for over 45 years. In addition to being Chief of the Department since 1992, he also previously served Enfield Fire in the capacities of Deputy Chief, Deputy Fire Marshal, Captain and Engineer. Also, a well-respected educator, Chief Richards has served in the role of Adjunct Professor at both St. Mary’s College and Springfield Tech Community College.
Very active within the various fire service regional, state and national levels, Chief Richards currently serves on the North Central CMED Board of Directors, the State of Connecticut Emergency Response Commission and as an Advisor to the Connecticut Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security. He is also a State Coordinator for the Connecticut Fire/Rescue Disaster Response Plan.
Chief Richards is a Past President of the Connecticut Fire Chiefs Association, a Past President and Board Member of the Connecticut Career Fire Chiefs, a Past President and Board Member of the New England Association of Fire Chiefs, and a long-time member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs.
At the national level, he has also served as a member of the Homeland Security and Terrorism Committee of the International Association of Fire Chiefs and on the Validation Committee for the Second and Third Editions of the IFSTA Chief Officer Training Manuals.
Enfield Fire District congratulates Chief Richards on receiving this well-deserved honor!