The Seattle Fire Chief is Harold Scoggins, who has held the position since April 2015. Appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council, the Chief runs a department of 33 fire stations with a 2026 endorsed budget of roughly $340.7 million, commanding fire suppression, emergency medical response, fire prevention, and investigations across the city.1City of Seattle. Seattle Fire Department 2025 Adopted and 2026 Endorsed Budget
Who Harold Scoggins Is
Scoggins began his firefighting career in the U.S. Air Force before joining the Glendale, California Fire Department in 1989. He moved through the ranks there as firefighter, engineer, captain, and battalion chief, and was named Glendale’s Fire Chief in 2008.2Seattle.gov. Leadership Team – Fire He brought more than 25 years of experience when he took command in Seattle in April 2015, and his tenure has now spanned multiple mayoral administrations. He has emphasized data-driven strategies for improving response times and led the department through several large-scale emergency events, including recent public health challenges.
What the Fire Chief Does
The Seattle City Charter gives the Fire Chief broad authority to manage the department and to set rules and regulations for how it operates, so long as those rules do not conflict with existing law.3Municode Library. The Charter – Seattle, WA In practice, that means day-to-day command over firefighting operations, emergency medical services, fire prevention and code enforcement, and fire-cause investigations. The Chief reports to the Mayor on departmental performance and readiness.
Budget oversight is one of the role’s most consequential pieces. The $340.7 million endorsed for 2026 covers personnel, apparatus, station maintenance, hazardous materials teams, and specialized training, and every spending decision has to line up with city priorities and state and federal safety standards.1City of Seattle. Seattle Fire Department 2025 Adopted and 2026 Endorsed Budget The department responded to more than 111,000 incidents in 2023, a figure that has climbed in recent years and shapes how resources get allocated.4City of Seattle. Seattle Responder – March 2024 Edition The Charter also establishes that the department consists of the Fire Chief and as many subordinate officers and employees as city ordinance prescribes, which gives the Council control over authorized staffing levels.3Municode Library. The Charter – Seattle, WA
How the Chief Is Appointed and Removed
The Mayor selects a candidate for Fire Chief, and the appointment takes effect only after the City Council confirms it by a majority vote of all its members.3Municode Library. The Charter – Seattle, WA Neither branch can install a chief on its own.
The Charter sets a hard qualification floor. A candidate must have at least ten years of service in a fire department serving a jurisdiction of at least 100,000 people.6Municode Library. The Charter – Seattle, WA
Removal works differently. The Mayor can remove the Fire Chief without Council approval, but must file a written statement of reasons with the City Council.5Municode Library. The Charter – Seattle, WA If the Chief was appointed from within the civil service system, they return to their former position upon replacement rather than losing their employment. Subordinate appointees get the same protection.
Who Reports to the Chief
Senior leadership below the Chief is organized into three divisions, each led by an Assistant Chief. As of 2025, Bryan Hastings oversees Operations, Tim Munnis leads Fire Prevention, and Chris Lombard heads Resource Management.2Seattle.gov. Leadership Team – Fire
Operations handles the daily deployment of fire engines, ladder trucks, and medic units across the city’s 33 stations.7Seattle.gov. Fire Stations Fire Prevention focuses on building inspections and code enforcement. Resource Management covers internal safety protocols, personnel training, and compliance with labor and workplace regulations. The structure gives the Chief expert oversight in each area without requiring direct involvement in every operational decision.
Mutual Aid and Federal Grants
The Fire Chief holds authority to request and accept outside assistance during declared emergencies. These inter-agency relationships are governed through mutual aid agreements that follow National Incident Management System guidelines, addressing liability, compensation, reimbursement, credentialing, and how outside personnel integrate into the local command structure.8Federal Emergency Management Agency. National Incident Management System: Mutual Aid
Federal grant programs also fall within the Chief’s administrative scope. The Assistance to Firefighters Grant program funds equipment, training, and staffing, with recipients required to register in SAM.gov, submit semi-annual performance reports through FEMA’s grant management platform, and follow environmental and historic preservation rules.9FEMA.gov. Assistance to Firefighters Grants Program The Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response program specifically aims to help departments meet staffing and response standards established under NFPA guidelines.10Federal Emergency Management Agency. Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response