Dalton Fire Department appoints Matt Daniel as new fire chief

Matt Daniel appointed as fire chief (from Dalton Fire Dept.)

DALTON, Ga. (WDEF) — The Dalton Fire Department appointed a new fire chief on Tuesday morning.

At the Public Safety Commission meeting, the fire department appointed Matt Daniel as the new fire chief.

On October 5, they named him the sole finalist for the position.

The commission previously interviewed four applicants for the position but voted unanimously in favor of Daniel.

“I’m humbled and honored to have the opportunity to lead the men and women of the Dalton Fire Department. It’s an exciting adventure and I’m ready and willing to accept the challenge and move the department forward and serve the community,” Daniel said.

Todd Pangle, the previous fire chief, left the fire department to become Dalton’s assistant city administrator.

Chief Daniel has been with the Dalton Fire Department for 20 years, since 2003.

He became Dalton’s fire marshal in 2017, as well as coordinator for their Preventions Division. The fire department promoted him to captain in 2019 and chief of the division in 2021.

Daniel is a Dalton-native, having graduated from Dalton High School. He also studied at the University of North Georgia and Truett McConnell University.