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Craig T. Kojima / ckojima@staradvertiser.com
Honolulu Fire Department Chief Kenneth Silva spoke at a news conference Wednesday asking the public to report fires and suspicious activity immediately
Honolulu Fire Chief Kenneth Silva has announced his retirement effective at the end of the year.
Silva, a 31-year veteran of the fire department, took over the reins of chief from Attilio Leonardi in January 2006.
He is the international director of the Western Fire Chiefs Association, a group comprised of fire chiefs from 10 western U.S. states. He is also chairman of the Hawaii State Fire Council.
As chief, Silva lobbied successfully for a city law barring all consumer fireworks, with the exception of standard “red” firecrackers, in September 2010. He has also supported a plan to merge the Department of Emergency Services with the fire department.
The Honolulu Fire Commission, which selected Silva, is tasked with choosing a successor.
The department consists of 1,090 uniformed and 61 non-uniformed personnel.
