Ryan Hamre, formerly the Deputy Fire Chief of the Hayward Fire Department (HFD), has been appointed to the role of the Fire Chief in Hayward Calif., on Monday, Nov. 17, 2025. (City of Hayward via Bay City News)

Hayward officials have appointed a 20-year veteran firefighter to serve as the new chief of the city’s Fire Department. 

Ryan Hamre will take over the role from Eric Vollmer. Vollmer became interim fire chief after former fire chief Garrett Contreras retired in June 2024, city officials said.

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Alise is a general assignment reporter with a focus on covering government, elections, housing, crime, courts and entertainment in San Francisco and on the Peninsula. Alise is a Bay Area native from San Carlos. She studied history at University of California, Santa Cruz and first started journalism at Skyline College’s school newspaper in San Bruno. She has interned for Bay City News and for Eesti Rahvusringhääling, or Estonian Public Broadcasting. She has covered everything from the removal of former San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus to the divisive battle over the Great Highway on San Francisco’s west side. Please send her any tips.