The City of Salinas didn't have to go far to find the next leader of their fire department. They have hired current Watsonville Fire Chief, Pablo Barreto. He said he has had his sights on Salinas for a while now.
"When Chief Rodriguez was there, him and I worked a lot together. When I became a fire chief, I really noticed the excellent department, the community, and how much growth there is. I see a lot of opportunities," said Barreto.
Salinas Fire has seen nearly two decades of instability. Barreto will be the 9th Chief in the last 17 years. He arrives after previous chief, Jeff Johnson, left the position after only 8 months. Barreto said he's here to stay. "Ultimately, this area is my family's area. I'm really invested in this area. For me, it feels just like moving to a different neighborhood, but being a part of the community, as well," said Baretto.
Baretto has been in Watsonville for the past 22 years.