ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Rochester Fire Chief Will Jackson is retiring at the end of February, and Thursday Mayor Lovely Warren announced Executive Deputy Chief Felipe Hernandez Jr. will become interim chief.

Jackson is retiring after 25 years with the fire department, and two years as chief.

What You Need To Know

  • Executive Deputy Chief Felipe Hernandez Jr. will become interim chief of the Rochester Fire Department

  • Chief Will Jackson is retiring after 25 years

  • He is the first Latino fire chief in Rochester’s history, and believed to be the first Latino fire chief of any major fire station in the entire state

  • Hernandez says his immediate priority as chief will be the health and safety of his staff and neighborhoods

“I was taught that every person must know his or her limitations,” Jackson said. “I know that the time is right for me to let future leaders have a turn at the helm.”

And he’s confident his successor Felipe Hernandez Jr. will do great at that helm.

“He’ll give 101 percent. And he knows the fire department, which is extremely important; to know your personnel, you equipment. And he’ll do a great job,” Jackson said.

Hernandez has been with the fire department for 20 years. He says becoming chief has been a dream of his.

“The reality hasn’t hit me yet of what’s happening,” Hernandez said. “To work so hard on your career and professional development, and see all those pieces finally come together is an amazing opportunity, and I’m very grateful for that.”

He is the first Latino fire chief in Rochester’s history, and believed to be the first Latino fire chief of any major fire station in the entire state. His brother, a police officer, was his role model. And he’s happy to be a role model for others.

“For our fellow Latinos and Latinas, and other minorities, to see future success I think they need to us in those positions to be able to see themselves in that position,” Hernandez said.

And that was a priority for Mayor Lovely Warren.

“That’s really what we want to talk about when we talk about equity and recovery, is making sure we not only create the stairway, but we have people that are willing and able to walk that stairway to success, and that the doors are intentionally left open for them to walk through,” Warren said.

Hernandez said his immediate priority as chief will be the health and safety of his staff and neighborhoods, as the community continues to battle COVID-19.

“You know, as a city we’re still going through a lot,” Hernandez said. “So basically stabilizing and moving forward through this crisis we’re dealing with.”

Hernandez will remain the "interim" chief until after the election, and the new city council can confirm him.