BLOOMFIELD, Iowa — The Bloomfield City Council appointed 20-year-old Daniel Oliver, a two-year Ottumwa Fire Department veteran, as its new fire chief following a 4–1 vote.
Oliver began with a high school job-shadow program and graduated from Davis County High School in 2023, KTVO reported. Ahead of the vote, Bloomfield firefighters urged the council to select an internal candidate.
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The council chose Oliver over interim Chief Brian Thomas, a roughly 12-year department veteran with additional prior firefighting experience, who stepped in after former Chief Jeff McClure retired in July 2025. Bloomfield volunteer firefighter Adam Bridgman was also a candidate for the job.
Despite firefighters’ urging the council to promote from within, Mayor Chris Miller backed Oliver, noting his full-time role in Ottumwa puts him on hundreds more calls each year than Bloomfield firefighters, yielding significant experience in just two years. Oliver started as chief on Nov. 7.
What do you think — is 20 too young to lead a department? How much should experience and call volume weigh against age and leadership potential in choosing a chief?
