Marcus Hernandez, who helped lead Cal Fire’s wildfire technology research, has been named Morgan Hill’s fire chief and the head of Cal Fire’s Santa Clara unit.
Hernandez succeeds Chief Baraka Carter, who retired in January. Former Chief Jake Hess, who oversaw the attack on 2020’s SCU Lightning Complex fire, one of the largest wildfires in state history, has served as interim fire chief.
“We are excited to have Chief Hernandez join our Morgan Hill leadership team,” City Manager Christina Turner said in a statement Thursday. “We are very pleased with the support received from Cal Fire, especially during the recruitment of a new chief.”
Hernandez began his career in 2003 as a volunteer firefighter in the Riverside County Fire Department and became a licensed paramedic in 2006. He joined Cal Fire in 2007 and advanced through roles including fire apparatus engineer, captain and battalion chief.
In 2023, he was promoted to deputy chief of the Office of Wildfire Technology Research and Development at Cal Fire’s Sacramento headquarters. He has also served on Urban Search & Rescue Task Force 6 that deploys to large scale disasters in the U.S.