Daniel Volpe Selected as Fire Chief
News Release from County of Hawaii, October 22, 2026
The County of Hawaiʻi Fire Commission voted today to select Daniel Volpe as the next Fire Chief for the Hawaiʻi Fire Department (HFD).
Volpe, who was previously Deputy Chief, became Temporary Fire Chief following the passing of Fire Chief Kazuo Todd in December 2025. He has served HFD for more than 20 years.
In addition to serving as Deputy Chief and Temporary Chief, his other roles with the department have included Firefighter, Fire Medical Specialist (paramedic), and Battalion Chief. A 23-year resident of Hawaiʻi Island, Volpe relocated from Las Vegas in 2003 and is a graduate of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
“I am grateful and humbled to be selected by the Fire Commission to be the next Fire Chief for the County of Hawaiʻi,” Volpe said. “I owe a debt of service to this department, and I couldn’t be more proud of the work of our team. Every day the men and women of the Hawaiʻi Fire Department respond to emergencies across the island and serve the public with dedication and aloha, and it is my distinct honor to continue to lead this amazing organization.”
The Fire Commission, which is responsible for hiring the Fire Chief, selected Volpe following in-person interviews with six candidates on Wednesday in Hilo. All interviews occurred in open session.
“Selecting our next Fire Chief is an important responsibility, and I want to thank the commissioners for following an open and transparent process,” said Mayor Kimo Alameda. “I wish to congratulate Daniel Volpe on his selection, and I look forward to continuing to work in collaboration with our public safety partners to support our firefighters, strengthen emergency response, and keep our communities safe.”
The job offer is contingent on the completion of a pre-employment medical examination, drug screening, and proof of a valid driver’s license. The Fire Commission tentatively scheduled Volpe’s formal appointment to take place at its Nov. 12 meeting.
“The Fire Commission would like to thank all of the candidates for their patience and support while going through the selection process for chief of the Hawaiʻi Fire Department,” said Commission Chair Gerald Kosaki. “We would like to congratulate Daniel Volpe in being selected as the next Fire Chief and look forward to working with him as commission members.”
The Fire Commission received eight applications for the position that met both the minimum qualifications and residency requirements. Of those eight, six candidates agreed to proceed with the interview process.
Recordings of the Fire Commission meetings can be found at https://www.youtube.com/@countyofhawaiimedia.
LINK: Download Photo
###