Daniel Hervilla is the new chief of the Mendocino (Calif.) Fire Protection District. He becomes only the third person in the history of the district to hold the position.

Hervilla joined the MFPD in 1987 and had been an assistant chief and training officer since 1997. He had been serving as acting chief since the end of October, following the retirement of Chief Steve Schlafer.

Hervilla’s background includes EMT certification and SCUBA rescue certification, and he has served as a cliff-rescue instructor.