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.
A University of Washington graduate, Tait also holds a master’s degree in public safety leadership and executive fire administration from Arizona State University. He is involved in public safety education, serving as an instructor for emergency medical and community response courses. In 2024, he received the Integrity, Commitment to Employees, and Exceptional Public Service Core Value Award from the Bellevue Fire Department.
Tait succeeds Chief Jay Hagen, who led the department from 2018 until April 2025, when he accepted the role of fire chief in Kalispell, Montana.
The Bellevue Fire Department serves more than 155,000 residents across a 33-square-mile area. Through mutual aid agreements, the department also supports an additional 201,000 people in surrounding communities. The department operates nine fire stations, with a tenth currently under construction, and employs 247 personnel including firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, and mental health professionals.
