The City of Folsom has officially named Jason Solak as its permanent fire chief, completing a leadership transition that began late last year.
City Manager Bryan Whitemyer announced the appointment Saturday morning, effective March 1, following several months of Solak serving as interim fire chief after the retirement of longtime Fire Chief Ken Cusano.
Solak has led the department since October 2025, guiding it through a period of fiscal recalibration and operational adjustment while maintaining service standards across the city’s six fire stations. During that time, city officials said he earned the confidence of department personnel, city leadership and community partners.
“During his interim tenure, Chief Solak has earned the trust of our firefighters, our leadership team, and our community,” Whitemyer said. “He brings operational depth, strong character, and a calm, steady presence. Naming him permanent Fire Chief reflects the outstanding leadership he has already demonstrated and our confidence in the direction he is taking the department.”
Solak steps into the permanent role with more than 30 years of fire service and leadership experience. He most recently served as deputy fire chief with the Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department, where he spent 25 years overseeing operations, training and emergency response readiness.
His career began with the U.S. Forest Service before continuing with the Rocklin and Benicia fire departments. Since 2003, Solak has also served as a task force leader and heavy rigging specialist with FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Team California Task Force 4, deploying nationwide to major disaster recovery operations. In addition, he serves as an adjunct instructor at Las Positas College and is a registered instructor with the State of California in multiple fire and rescue disciplines.
A Folsom resident for more than 20 years, Solak and his wife, Dawn, moved to the city in 2001 and raised their two children, Jake and Brianna, in the Empire Ranch neighborhood.
“It’s an honor and privilege to serve the community I’ve called home for more than two decades,” Solak previously told Folsom Times. “The Folsom Fire Department has a proud legacy of service and excellence. Together, we’ll continue to uphold that tradition and deliver the highest level of public safety services to our residents.”
With the interim title now removed, Solak formally assumes leadership of a department established in 1857 that serves nearly 93,000 residents across approximately 30 square miles in eastern Sacramento County.
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