SOUTHAMPTON — Standing against the gleaming red backdrop of Engine 3, Richard Fasoli was sworn in as the Southampton Fire Department’s new fire chief in a brief ceremony on Wednesday.

“I couldn’t do it without all of your help,” Fasoli said to those who came to celebrate the event.

Standing before friends, family, town officials, and several of the town’s previous fire chiefs who gathered outside of the Fire Department despite rainy weather, Fasoli was sworn in by the Town Clerk, Lucille A. Dalton. Fasoli’s wife, Michele, presented him with his new badge.

“Rich started at the fire department in 1993,” Capt. Patrick Eline said. “He’s been the interim for the past year, and now he is the 12th fire chief of Southampton.”

Fasoli took over as interim chief in June 2023, after former chief John Workman, who had held the position since October 2013, retired.

“I just hope to continue to do a good job,” Fasoli said.

He also expressed excitement about the potential for a new public safety complex for the town.

Last week, Southampton Town Meeting voters agreed to buy 52 acres off College Highway for $2.2 million, which the town hopes to use as the site of a new public safety complex. The acquisition is still pending a town ballot vote, and the complex’s development stages are still a ways away, but both Fasoli and Police Chief Ian Illingsworth see the vote as a step in the right direction.

Both the fire and police departments currently operate out of aging buildings converted from a former schoolhouse and town hall, respectively. Space and layout in these buildings present daily difficulties.

The Southampton Fire and Police Stations are hosting tours on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Residents are welcome to stop by without appointments to congratulate the new fire chief and see both department buildings firsthand.

Alexa Lewis can be reached at alewis@gazettenet.com or on Instagram and Twitter at @alexamlewis.