Kalispell is getting a new fire chief.  

Jay Hagen will assume the role on May 5, returning to western Montana where he started his career in firefighting three decades ago.  

Hagen is moving to Kalispell from the Bellevue Fire Department in Washington, where he has served as chief since 2018. 

Outgoing Kalispell Fire Chief Dan Pearce, who took on the position in July 2021, is retiring. 

“While we will miss Chief Pearce and appreciate his leadership, we are confident that Chief Hagen will uphold the commitment to excellence in fire and emergency medical response that the department has established,” officials said in a statement released by City Hall on March 14. 

Hagen's 30 years of experience fighting fires began at the Missoula Fire Department. Since then, he has served in various positions including fire prevention, training and high-level administration, officials said. 

It was in also in Missoula that he earned a bachelor’s degree in organizational communications from the University of Montana. He later earned a master’s degree in homeland security and defense from the Naval Postgraduate School in California.  

Hagen received his chief fire officer designation from the Center for Public Safety Excellence and recently was named the 2024 Administrator of the Year by the King County Fire Chief's Association in Washington. 

“Chief Hagen is the ideal fit to lead our fire department into the future,” said City Manager Doug Russell in a statement. “As we enter this phase of rapid growth, we will continue to work on deploying the recommendations outlined in the 2023 CPSM report, which includes building and operating an additional fire station. Chief Hagen has successfully overseen similar capital and organizational changes in the city of Bellevue, and we are confident in his leadership and strategic planning abilities.” 

Voters last year approved a dedicated public safety levy that has allowed the Fire Department to bring on additional personnel. Money from the levy is also expected to fund construction of a third fire station in the city.  

Reporter Jack Underhill can be reached at 759-4407 and junderhill@dailyinterlake.com.