On Monday family, friends and fans of Richard Strain Jr, Volunteer Fire District Chief of Round Hill Volunteer Fire Co, gathered at town hall to honor his 40 years of service as District Chief and 50 years as a volunteer firefighter in Greenwich.
Three generations of the Strain family and puppy Scout.
In 1948, Round Hill Volunteer Fire Company was formed to protect the residents and estates of backcountry.
For the last 75 years, the volunteer firefighters of Round Hill have provided unprecedented first response emergency services, protecting life and property, to the Greenwich backcountry and all of Greenwich.
Chief Strain joined the volunteers of Round Hill only months out of high school in 1973 and has continued to serve as an extraordinarily active volunteer for 50 years.
Rick Strain and Fred Camillo. Oct 16, 2023 Photo Leslie Yager
Members of the Greenwich delegation Rachel Khanna (D-149), Steve Meskers (D-150), Rick Strain, State Senator Ryan Fazio (R-36) and Hector Arzeno (D-151). Oct 16, 2023 Photo: Leslie Yager
Chief Strain’s career stretched from 1983 to 2023. His tenure is likely the longest in the state of Connecticut, New England, and perhaps the country.
During his 40 years as Chief, Round Hill’s volunteers responded to 13,917 emergency calls – nearly one call per day, every day of the year, for 40 years. Chief Strain stepped down to Assistant District Chief earlier this summer.
Chief Strain comes from a firefighting family, including his great-grandfather, grandfather, father, and uncle and others, and has extended the family tradition and commitment to the Town of Greenwich with his wife, Linda, a 45-year Round Hill volunteer, their son, Will, a career firefighter in Greenwich, and their daughter, Sharon, the new Volunteer District Chief at Round Hill.
In a proclamation, First Selectman Fred Camillo stated, “The Town of Greenwich owes a tremendous debt of gratitude to Rick Strain for his 50 years of selfless service and commitment to the Town of Greenwich, and for his 40 years of leadership of Round Hill Volunteer Fire Company,
the only all-volunteer fire company in Greenwich.”
October is Fire Safety Prevention Month. Display in Greenwich Town Hall.
Today, Round Hill Volunteer Fire Co’s members continue to serve the backcountry, working hand-in-hand with Town career firefighters, not only in the Round Hill fire district, but also throughout greater Greenwich when additional resources or apparatus is needed. Round Hill Volunteer Fire Co responds to an average of 300-400 emergency calls per year.
Round Hill Volunteer Fire Co is an independent volunteer fire company that is affiliated with, but only partially funded by, the Town of Greenwich. Each year its members must raise more than $50,000 to fund its annual operating expenses, and also must raise $2MM to fund the firehouse renovation and future purchase of new apparatus and equipment. Round Hill’s volunteers rely on the community’s support so they can better serve you, your family, and your neighbors.