Career Staff

Home /

Career Staff

Christiana hired its first two full-time Firefighter/EMTs in 1994 to offset daily Fire/EMS staffing. Over the past 30 years we have gradually increased our career staff to 35 full-time employees.

In 2004 Christiana Career Staff started the first I.A.F.F. Union Local in Delaware for combination department firefighters, which has grown to over 150 members throughout New Castle County, also followed suite in Kent and Sussex Counties with their own locals.

CFC was the first combination department in the state to promote career employees into the officer ranks in 2012 with our first Career Assistant Chief, followed by our first Career Lieutenants in 2015.

Our career staff work seamlessly alongside of our volunteer officers and members to ensure we have a minimum of 1 Duty Chief, 1 Engine, 1 Ladder, and 3 BLS units staffed 24/7, 365.

Christiana strives to be the example of a successful combination system for our state and nation.

We currently employ:

1 Career Assistant Chief, 3 Captains, 1 Lieutenant, 16 Firefighters, 12 EMTs, a full-time administrator and a full-time mechanic. CFC also employs over 30 part time EMTs for BLS staffing.

Our Career Fire/EMS work a 4 Platoon rotation of 24hrs on and 72 hrs off. Each shift has 1 Capt./Lt. (Shift Commander), with 4 Firefighter/EMTs & 3 BLS EMTs.

Richard J. Perillo

Chief Perillo was assigned as the Fire Chief of the Christiana Fire Company through Dec 2012 and Dec 2018. As a Deputy Fire Chief, Perillo was assigned as the Operations Chief prior to becoming the Chief of Training and Administration. As an Assistant Chief, Perillo was assigned with direct oversight of Station 6 Operations. Prior to becoming an active member with Christiana Fire Company, Chief Perillo was an active member of the Brandywine Hundred Fire Company for more than 10 years. Chief Perillo has held the positions of Lieutentant, Captain and Assistant Chief within the Brandywine Hundred Fire Company, and also managed their Training Division with great success. Chief Perillo is a proud and honored graduate of the Delaware State Police Academy. At the completion of the Police Academy, Chief Perillo was assigned to the Investigations Division of the Delaware State Fire Marshal's Office. Chief Perillo conducted Arson Fire and Explosion Investigations for approximately 3 years prior to being assigned to the New Castle Police Department in 2008. Chief Perillo is currently assigned to the Patrol Division of the New Castle Police Department and is a Sergeant on B-Squad. Chief Perillo is mentored daily by his Father Richard T. Perillo. Mr. Perillo is a past President of the New Castle County Fire Fighters Association as well as the current President of the Brandywine Hundred Fire Company. Chief Perillo takes pride in his Family, this Service and its Traditions. Chief Perillo is on the Long Range Planning Committee within the Christiana Fire Company and welcomes the future of The Delaware Fire Service. Chief Perillo joined the ranks of the NCC firefighters Association and will serve as the President of this association beginning in year 2021.