Honolulu Fire Chief Kenneth Silva received high marks for leadership and managing skills in his annual performance evaluation for 2007.

In its evaluation report completed Feb. 11, the Honolulu Fire Commission gave Silva a 4.86 grade out of a possible 5.0 in two categories: leadership and managerial skills/working relationship with the commission.

The report stated, "Much of Chief Silva's effectiveness is a direct consequence of his ability to reach out and build relationships that enable an open dialogue throughout the department."

The commission cited the August 2007 brushfire which scorched 7,000 acres in Waialua as an example of Silva's leadership qualities. "The chief demonstrated outstanding leadership in assembling and leading about one-third of the department's resources in fighting the Waialua fire which ... took over a week to extinguish," the report stated.

The report also noted that Silva "nurtures a culture of openness and information-sharing with the commission and excels in managing the department's affairs."

Silva is the second fire chief appointed by the commission and assumed the office in January 2006.

Current commission members are Elizabeth Ho, chair; Michael Yamaguchi, vice chair, and Quentin Kawananakoa, Jacob Ng, and Sylvia Waiwaiole-Hopfe. All were appointed by Mayor Mufi Hannemann.