City Manager Diane Carlson has appointed Dave Tait as the new chief of the Bellevue Fire Department. Tait, a 28-year veteran of the department, had been serving as interim chief since April 2025 following the departure of former Fire Chief Jay Hagen.
“We are lucky to have such an exceptional candidate for fire chief right in our ranks, who has earned high respect in the region and across the state of Washington for his vision, character, competence, and people first-approach to the world,” Carlson said.
Tait began his career with Bellevue Fire as a firefighter and paramedic and has steadily risen through the ranks. He has held positions including lieutenant, captain, battalion chief, and deputy chief for the bureau of operations, a role he has held since 2023…