Robert Ridgeway, a 30-year veteran firefighter and fire chief of the Mashpee Fire Department in Mashpee, Mass., was hired Wednesday as Cape Girardeau's new fire chief.

Ridgeway, 49, will move from the Cape Cod area of New England to the nation's only inland "cape" and begin work here March 1.

City Manager J. Ronald Fischer said in a new release Wednesday that he was pleased to hire someone with Ridgeway's experience and expertise.

"Not only is Bob a third generation firefighter, he brings to Cape a strong background in firefighting and emergency services," he said.

For the past five years, Ridgeway has been fire chief in the Mashpee department in Cape Cod.

Ridgeway said from his home Wednesday night that as with his appointment five years ago to the Cape Cod post he's looking forward to the challenges posed by his new position, but for different reasons.

"I came to Mashpee because I wanted the opportunity to run my own show, and that's what I've done the past five years," he said. "I feel we've built a darn good department here."

Although Ridgeway had to work to build up the small department, he said Cape Girardeau already has an excellent department.

"I think that's one of the things that really excited me about Cape Girardeau," he said. "It's a whole different scenario because it already has a good department, good apparatus, and good facilities.

"It's one thing to come in when a department needs a lot of attention and make a difference. It's something else to come in when a department is already good. So that's a real challenge I'm looking forward to."

Ridgeway said he was impressed with the beauty and personality of Southeast Missouri and Cape Girardeau. He also said the county's economic climate is much more healthy than is New England's particularly in Massachusetts.

He said his first goal when he arrives here is to "meet the people and learn the city."

Ridgeway's experience includes more than 20 years as a firefighter and career fire officer with a large metropolitan fire department; 12 years as a training instructor with the National Fire Academy; and service in the U.S. Marine Corp, where he earned numerous decorations.

He's the recipient of more than 39 citations and commendations for personal valor and professional achievement, including the George W. Colburn Jr. Valor Award as "Firefighter of the Year" for Maryland in 1972.

Born and raised in Beltsville, Md., Ridgeway is married with four children.

He was selected from three finalists who interviewed last month with city officials. The other finalists were Hugh Wood, a 22-year veteran firefighter and operational battalion chief of the Fairfax County, Va., Fire and Rescue Department, and Jerry Kerley, a 30-year veteran firefighter who is chief of the Largo Fire and Rescue Department in Largo, Fla.

"It is reassuring to me that professionals such as Chief Ridgeway are looking to our community to locate themselves and their family," said Fischer. "Each of the finalists out of 79 applicants indicated one of their primary reasons for seeking to come here was the quality of life they felt Cape Girardeau offered."