Rhode Island firefighters to be honored on National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation said that two Rhode Island firefighters would be honored during the 43rd National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend on May 4.

Robert “Bob” Gardner of the Richmond-Carolina Fire District and James Varin of the Providence Fire Department will be honored at both the candlelight and memorial services in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

Gardner died in January 2023 after suffering from a heart attack the same night as a structure fire, while Varin died in February 2023 of brain cancer, which the state ruled as a line-of-duty death.

Information on Gardner and Varin as well as the other 226 firefighter who will be memorialized can be found here.