Jesse Morales is the fire chief in two cities, in two countries.
But for the 45-year-old Morales, being fire chief in Naco, Arizona and Naco, Sonora, just seemed like a natural fit.
Morales’ grandfather began serving with Naco Fire in Arizona in 1959. Morales was taught about the fire service and he began helping out at the fire station as a teenager.
“We were one of the only fire departments that would respond to Naco, Sonora, back in the day,” Morales said.
Over the years and after working with his grandfather, Morales formed relationships with different fire chiefs and mayors in the Mexican border town of about 6,400 people.
He described a time in Mexico during which fire chiefs served at the will of whichever political party was in power. When Naco, Sonora, Mayor Andrea Ramos was elected about three years ago, she began introducing changes slowly. One of them, Morales said, was the creation of a fire board that would be responsible for naming the town’s fire chief.
In November, Ramos asked Morales if he would consider working for her as the fire chief in the 13-man volunteer department.