It’s down to 13 applicants vying for Hawai‘i County Fire chief vacancy due to sudden death of Kazuo Todd

From an original pool of 33 applicants for the vacant position of Hawaiʻi County fire chief, 13 people have met the minimum requirements, according to the Department of Human Resources.

The job for fire chief was posted in March following the unexpected death of Fire Chief Kazuo Todd in December at the age of 45.

Hawaiʻi County Fire Commission Chair Gerald Kosaki told Big Island Now on Wednesday that the county will send letters to the 13 individuals who met the minimum requirements to be screened further to see if they have lived in the state of Hawai‘i over the past year. They have seven days to respond.

The applicants’ names have not been released.

Deputy Fire Chief Daniel Volpe, who was appointed as temporary chief, is the only candidate Kosaki is aware of who has applied. During a commission meeting in February, Volpe confirmed his intention to go for the permanent chief position.

After Human Resources personnel further determine the eligibility of candidates, Kosaki said the commission will decide who to interview for the job.

“We may reduce it down to a smaller number,” he said.

Kosaki said questions will be developed by himself and corporate counsel with the county’s Human Resources Department.

“No one will see the questions, including the other commissioners, until the day of the interviews,” Kosaki said. “If the commission created the questions, it would be in an open forum, and then the candidates would be privy to them, and we didn’t want that.”

The salary for the fire chief is set by the Salary Commission and is currently $201,204 per year.

The next commission meeting is June 25 in Kona.