ROCHESTER, N.Y. — ​Interim Fire Chief Felipe Hernandez will take on the role permanently in Mayor-elect Malik Evans' senior administration.

Interim Chief Hernandez took over for former Fire Chief Will Jackson after he retired in February. He has been with the department for more than 20 years.

Evans says he’s excited to have someone with so much experience lead the fire department.

“He also shares my vision by making sure that we get more of our city residents interested in the fire service,” Evans said. “We have to make sure that our people in our city can look at him and say, ‘I too one day want to serve our city as firefighter.’ "

Hernandez is the first Latino fire chief in Rochester’s history.