ROBERT P. PARESE, CFEI, EFO

Robert began his fire service career in 1985. In 1993, he was hired as a firefighter by the City of Little Falls Fire Department. Robert worked his way up through the ranks to Chief of the Department in 2001 which he is currently serving.

Over his career he has been involved in numerous incidents throughout New York State. Robert was deployed to New York City to assist in the efforts at Ground Zero shortly after the World Trade Center bombing on September 11, 2001.

Robert holds an Associate degree in Engineering from Herkimer County Community College. Robert is also a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program (EFO) and holds numerous certifications from the New York State Emergency Management Office, U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Federal Emergency Management Agency. Robert has a passion for being thorough and focused on detail when it comes to investigating the origin and cause of a fire.

Robert is a Certified Fire and Explosive Investigator with the National Association of Fire Investigators (NAFI), New York State pro-board certified fire investigator, and Certified Code Enforcer through New York State. As Chief he is responsible for determining the cause of fires within in his fire district. He also is a member of the Herkimer County Fire Investigation Team. 

Robert is currently a past president of the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs and serves on the fire investigators committee. Robert was honored with the Herkimer County Firefighter of the Year Award in 1989. Currently, he is a member of the Career Fire Chiefs of New York State, National Fire Protection Association, Herkimer County Fire Chiefs Association, National Association of Fire Investigators, Herkimer County Fire Advisory Board, National Society of Executive Fire Officers, International Code Council, International Association of Fire Chiefs, and International Association of Arson Investigators.