NEW: Prov Fire Chief Cunha Set to Retire, Mello Named Acting Chief
GoLocalProv News Team
NEW: Prov Fire Chief Cunha Set to Retire, Mello Named Acting Chief

Chief Clarence Cunha
Cunha has been a member of the Providence Fire Department for almost 35 years, serving as Chief of the Department since December of 2013. During his time with the department, Cunha received various awards, commendations and citations for heroic actions.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTCunha reached the department's mandatory retirement age and will be leaving in mid-July.
“Chief Cunha’s commitment to the safety of Providence and its residents has been exemplary. On behalf of a grateful city, I thank Chief Cunha for his service and wish him well as he begins the next chapter in his life,” said Mayor Elorza.

Assistant Chief of the Department Scott Mello has been with the Providence Fire Department since 1984 and has served as Assistant Chief of Department since February.
"Assistant Chief Scott Mello has been with the Providence Fire Department for over 30 years, and throughout his career has demonstrated courage and leadership that befit the responsibilities of acting Chief. I look forward to working with him in that role,” said Elorza.
Over his 30 years with the department, Mello worked at the Branch Avenue, LaSalle Square, and Broad Street fire stations for almost 25 years before being named Director of Training in 2011.
“I thank Chief Cunha for his years of distinguished service and am glad to have had the opportunity to work with him. I am honored to be asked to serve as acting chief and look forward to working with tireless dedication and commitment to the safety of Providence," said Chief Mello.
As the Acting Chief of Department, Chief Mello will take on all duties and responsibilities of the office as the administration conducts search to fill the position.
Active Fire Fighters Making Over $100K
63.
Name: John Romano
Job Description: Fire Lieutenant
Total: $100,284.45
62.
Name: Timothy Gingell
Job Description: Fire Lieutenant
Total: $100,310.16
61.
Robert Barrett Jr.
Job Description: Fire Lieutenant
Total: $100,431.68
60.
Name: Tim Whalen
Job Description: Air Supply Technician
Total: $100,459.35
59.
Name: Rocco Sauro
Job Description: Fire Lieutenant
Total: $100,788.66
58.
Name: Matthew Randall
Job Description: Firefighter
Total: $101,257.61
57.
Name: Robert Jackson
Job Description: Fire Lieutenant
Total: $101,533.24
56.
Name: Garrison Roun
Job Description: Fire Captain
Total: $103,287.08
55.
Name: Jason White
Job Description: Fire Rescue Lieutenant
Total: $103,451.16
54.
Name: Robert Randle
Job Description: Fire Lieutenant
Total: $104,221.73
53.
Name: Joseph Vingi Jr.
Job Description: Fire Lieutenant
Total: $104,299.27
52.
Name: Stephen Capracotta
Job Description: Fire Captain
Total: $104,762.46
51.
Name: Jason Houle
Job Description: Fire Captain
Total: $104,802.19
50.
Name: Kevin Bross
Job Description: Fire Lieutenant
Total: $105,201.83
49.
Name: Joseph Dillon
Job Description: Fire Lieutenant
Total: $105,294.56
48.
Name: Michael Bates
Job Description: Fire Captain
Total: $105,308.71
47.
Name: Peter McMichael
Job Description: Fire Prevention Captain
Total: $106,310.09
46.
Name: Daniel Rinaldi
Job Description: Firefighter
Total: $106,665.69
45.
Name: Kenneth Prew
Job Description: Fire Captain
Total: $106,780.96
44.
Name: James Taylor
Job Description: Chief of Communications (Fire)
Total: $106,787.65
43.
Name: Joseph Fontaine
Job Description: Fire Captain
Total: $107,737.39
42.
Name: Scott Shangraw
Job Description: Fire Lieutenant
Total: $109,366.95
41.
Name: Kenneth Cirelli
Job Description: Acting Fire Battalion Chief
Total: $109,704.81
40.
Name: Stephen Houle
Job Description: Fire Captain
Total: $109,753.32
39.
Name: Sean Reddy
Job Description: Firefighter Car 79
Total: $109,873.05
38.
Name: Heidi Rivard
Job Description: Fire Rescue Captain
Total: $111,434.29
37.
Name: Dennis Tucker
Job Description: Fire Lieutenant
Total: $111,456.06
36.
Name: Vincent Clements
Job Description: Dispatcher Lieutenant
Total: $111,497.41
35.
Name: John Healey Jr.
Job Description: Fire Battalion Chief
Total: $111,715.94
34.
Name: Kevin Dolan
Job Description: Fire Captain
Total: $112,870.75
33.
Name: David Plante
Job Description: Fire Captain
Total: $113,559.71
32.
Name: Michael Peck Jr.
Job Description: Fire Rescue Lieutenant
Total: $113,686.14
31.
Name: John Hannon
Job Description: Fire Lieutenant
Total: $113,746.06
30.
Name: Stephen Siravo
Job Description: Fire Captain
Total: $114,029.68
29.
Name: Kenneth Bager
Job Description: Fire Lieutenant
Total: $114,181.03
28.
Name: Joseph Misto Jr.
Job Description: Dispatcher Lieutenant
Total: $114,469.25
27.
Name: Dennis Vecchiarino
Job Description: Fire Captain
Total: $115,463.24
26.
Name: Kristopher Wright
Job Description: Firefighter
Total: $115,583.06
25.
Name: Jeffrey Gallo
Job Description: Acting Fire Battalion Chief
Total: $116,343.31
24.
Name: Paul Picozzi
Job Description: Fire Lieutenant
Total: $117,054.02
23.
Name: Michael O'Toole
Job Description: Chief of Operations/Fire Dept
Total: $117,371.94
22.
Name: Kenneth Rainone
Job Description: Acting Fire Battalion Chief
Total: $118,216.87
21.
Name: Paul Doughty
Job Description: Firefighter Car 79
Total: $119,162.01
20.
Name: Thomas Miller
Job Description: Fire Rescue Lieutenant
Total: $121,031.48
19.
Name: Scott Mello
Job Description: Assistant Fire Chief
Total: $122,100.94
18.
Name: Kevin Jutras
Job Description: Fire Captain
Total: $122,219.25
17.
Name: Brian Mahoney
Job Description: Fire Captain
Total: $122,257.14
16.
Name: John Devlin Jr.
Job Description: Fire Lieutenant
Total: $122,648.91
15.
Name: Antiliano Estrella
Job Description: Fire Lieutenant
Total: $123,571.77
14.
Name: Andrea Stukus
Job Description: Fire Rescue Lieutenant
Total: $127,048.46
13.
Name: David Palumbo
Job Description: Fire Rescue Captain
Total: $127,059.23
12.
Name: J.J. Varone
Job Description: Fire Battalion Chief
Total: $133,385.1
11.
Name: David Soscia
Job Description: Acting Deputy Asst. Chief
Total: $134,671
10.
Name: William Kenyon
Job Description: Acting Deputy Asst. Chief
Total: $134,914.97
9.
Name: William Lynch
Job Description: Fire Rescue Captain
Total: $135,550.58
8.
Name: Christopher Brochu
Job Description: Fire Rescue Lieutenant
Total: $137,698.67
7.
Name: Peter Tagliaferri
Job Description: Fire Rescue Lieutenant
Total: $138,730.29
6.
Name: Thomas Cassin
Job Description: Fire Captain
Total: $139,499.51
5.
Name: Joseph Desmarais
Job Description: Deputy Ass'T Fire Chief
Total: $147,588.93
4.
Name: James Mirza
Job Description: Deputy Ass'T Fire Chief
Total: $153,163.4
3.
Name: Clarence Cunha
Job Description: Fire Chief
Total: $154,609.65
2.
Name: Zachariah Kenyon
Job Description: Fire Rescue Captain
Total: $161,117.57
1.
Name: Vincet D'Ambra
Job Description: Fire Rescue Captain
Total: $188,734.29
