| WESTERLY, R.I. — The Westerly Fire Department held a formal pinning ceremony on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, to recognize the election and promotion of Joseph Fusaro as Chief of Department, the election of Sammy M. Homsi as 3rd Assistant Chief, and the appointment of Justin Izzi as Department Captain.
The ceremony brought together department members, fellow firefighters, family, friends, and members of the community to recognize the three officers and mark an important transition in the leadership of the Westerly Fire Department.
Chief Fusaro was elected Chief of Department at the Annual Westerly Fire District Meeting on August 26, 2026, following nearly four decades of service to the Westerly community.
Fusaro joined Alert Hook & Ladder Company No. 1 in April 1987, serving in numerous capacities before becoming Foreman from 2000 to 2001. In 2007, he was elected to the Westerly Fire Department Board of Engineers as an Assistant Chief, where he served for nearly two decades before being elected Chief of Department.
His commitment to public safety extends well beyond the fire service. Fusaro recently retired from the Westerly Dispatch Center after 36 years of service, where he answered 911 calls and helped coordinate critical Fire and EMS communications for Westerly, Richmond, Hopkinton, and portions of Stonington and Charlestown.
He also spent more than two decades as an educator with Westerly Public Schools, serving generations of students and families throughout the community.
During the ceremony, Chief Fusaro was pinned by his wife Dana.
Chief Fusaro succeeds John A. Mackay, who retired after 46 years of active service to the Westerly Fire District. Mackay joined the District on May 1, 1980, and served in numerous leadership roles during his career, including Foreman of Alert Hook & Ladder Co. No. 1, Fire Alarm Superintendent, Deputy State Fire Marshal, and ultimately Chief of Department.
The August 26 election also resulted in the advancement of Edward Haik to 2nd Assistant Chief, creating a vacancy in the position of 3rd Assistant Chief.
At the adjourned Westerly Fire District Meeting on September 16, 2026, Sammy M. Homsi was elected 3rd Assistant Chief.
Homsi joined the Cyclone Steam Fire Engine Co. No. 2 on November 25, 2005, and has served the department for more than 20 years. He most recently served as Department Captain, a position he held since 2020 after being unanimously appointed by the Board of Engineers during the department’s transition toward a more unified organizational structure.
During his service, Homsi has held a number of leadership roles, including Foreman of Cyclone Steam Fire Engine Co. No. 2. As Department Captain, he also helped lead several initiatives focused on strengthening department operations and member support, including the launch of a modern department website and members area, improvements to responder technology, development of a new-member orientation program, and implementation of the department’s Driver On-Call Program.
During the ceremony, Assistant Chief Homsi was pinned by his wife, Hannah, and their three sons, Carter, Charles, and Camden.
Homsi’s advancement to the Board of Engineers created a vacancy in the position of Department Captain. Following an appointment process conducted by the Board of Engineers, Justin Izzi was appointed Department Captain.
Izzi joined the Cyclone Steam Fire Engine Co. No. 2 on April 14, 2016, and has served as a Department Lieutenant since 2020. During his time with the department, he has continued to take on increasing leadership responsibilities while supporting the department’s members, operations, and mission.
As Department Captain, Izzi will serve as one of the department’s senior line officers and will play an important role in supporting the Board of Engineers, leading the department’s Lieutenants, and helping oversee the day-to-day leadership and operational needs of the membership.
During the ceremony, Captain Izzi was pinned by Mya Marsiglio.
The current Westerly Fire Department Board of Engineers consists of Chief Joseph Fusaro, 1st Assistant Chief Kevin Morrone, 2nd Assistant Chief Edward Haik, and 3rd Assistant Chief Sammy M. Homsi.
The pinning ceremony formally recognized the leadership transitions and celebrated the department’s longstanding traditions of service, commitment, and leadership from within its volunteer membership.
The Westerly Fire Department congratulates Chief Joseph Fusaro, 3rd Assistant Chief Sammy M. Homsi, and Department Captain Justin Izzi on their new leadership roles. The department also congratulates 2nd Assistant Chief Edward Haik on his advancement and once again extends its sincere gratitude to retired Chief John A. Mackay for his decades of dedicated service and leadership.
Photos courtesy of Dan Hyland. |
