At the Upper Providence Township Board of Supervisors Regular Meeting on Monday, July 19, Michael Risell (pictured at right) was sworn in as Assistant Fire Chief of the Upper Providence Township Department of 
Fire and Emergency Services. Assistant Fire Chief Risell joined the department in March 2020, but was not able to be formally sworn-in until now due to the Supervisors' meetings only being held virtually.
Assistant Fire Chief Risell began as a volunteer firefighter with the Skippack Fire Company at the age of 16 and has been a certified EMT since the age of 19. He continues to volunteer with Skippack Fire Company, serving as their deputy fire chief. He is a fourth-generation firefighter.
Assistant Fire Chief Risell began his professional career with the Lower Salford Police Department where he worked for 21 years, but his dream was to be a firefighter. For the past 18 years, he has worked as a career firefighter, culminating as a captain with East Whiteland Township.
“Risell’s background as a police officer, an EMT, and a volunteer firefighter gives him a wealth of experience, and we are glad to have his broad perspective of public safety on our team," says Fire Chief Dan Kerrigan (pictured at left).
An instructor with the Pennsylvania State Fire Academy, he has thousands of hours of training under his belt. As one of the township’s two assistant fire chiefs, Risell is responsible for operations and training.
“I’m happy to be a part of a strong team that compliments each other,” says Risell. “It is an exciting time to be in Upper Providence … with the expansion of personnel and the new building.”