Norwalk Swears In New Fire Department Chief

NORWALK, CT — The city announced Wednesday that Edward McCabe has been sworn in as the new chief of the Norwalk Fire Department.

According to a news release provided by the city, McCabe was appointed to serve as chief by Mayor Harry Rilling and the Norwalk Fire Commission following the recent retirement of the department's previous chief, Gino Gatto.

"I'm proud to appoint Edward McCabe to chief of the Norwalk Fire Department," Rilling said in a news release. "Throughout his 31 years of service to the department, McCabe has consistently remained involved in department programs, particularly those related to firefighters' health and safety. He's a long-standing member of the department's Peer Support Program, where he assists other firefighters in coping with stress and offers support and guidance. Norwalk will benefit from his expertise and strong leadership skills."

Rilling also thanked Gatto for serving as the city's fire chief for the past eight years, as well as his 43 years of dedicated service to the department.

"We appreciate [Gatto's] devotion to the community," Rilling said, "and wish him a well-deserved retirement."

McCabe joined the ranks of the Norwalk Fire Department on Nov. 1, 1994, just months after completing his bachelor's degree at Saint Michael's College.

He quickly earned fire service certifications and become involved in department committees, then was elected secretary of Norwalk Firefighters Local 830, a position he served in for several years, according to the city.

McCabe was promoted to lieutenant in 2000. In the ensuing years, he became the department's quartermaster, issuing stronger leather fire helmets and redesigning their protective equipment to exceed industry standards for safety, according to the city.

McCabe was also one of the first two lieutenants assigned to NFD Rescue Company 2 in 2008.

He was promoted to captain the following year and played a key role in redesigning Norwalk's ladder trucks. He also introduced a tractor-drawn aerial design that "significantly enhanced maneuverability and provided a more comprehensive array of ground ladders and rescue tools," according to the city.

McCabe was promoted to assistant chief of operations in 2021, where he formed mutual aid agreements for multiple alarm fires, updated standard operating procedures for truck and rescue companies and added a specialized highway blocking vehicle to the NFD fleet.

The specialized vehicle was designed to protect firefighters from oncoming traffic while operating at emergencies on Interstate 95, the Merritt Parkway and other major roadways, according to the city.

A Norwalk resident, McCabe has received six department commendations, including four Unit Citations, a 9/11 Service Ribbon and a Meritorious Service Bar for his actions at a building fire with trapped occupants, city officials noted.