Rancho Santa Fe Fire District names administrative battalion chief and deputy fire marshal

The Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District recently announced that Captain Chris Galindo has been promoted to administrative battalion chief and Fire Prevention Specialist Renee Hill has been promoted to deputy fire marshal. These newly created positions serve to replace the position of Fire Marshal, which has been vacant since Cliff Hunter’s retirement last year, and streamline the organization of the Fire Prevention Bureau.

“I feel very fortunate and honored to have been selected for this position and am committed to maintaining the consistency and high standards established by my predecessor, Cliff Hunter,” said Galindo. “I’m also looking forward to working alongside the rest of the District’s management team and providing support for the fire suppression crews in the field when needed.” Galindo, who has worked in the fire service for 24 years, came to RSFFPD when he was hired as a contract firefighter/paramedic in 2000.

A few months later he was added as a regular firefighter/paramedic and worked his way up the ranks, becoming a captain in 2006. The past two years he has served as an administrative captain overseeing the construction of Station 3 in Fairbanks Ranch.

Hill, who was hired as a fire prevention specialist in 2005, expressed a sentiment similar to Galindo’s. “I am honored to be offered the position of deputy fire marshal for the Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District. I look forward to the opportunities this position brings and continuing my career with such a wonder organization.”

To fill the vacancy created by Galindo’s promotion, engineer Marshall Jordan has been promoted to captain and firefighter/paramedic Mike Hernandez has been promoted to engineer. Marshall is assigned to Station 4 in Cielo while Hernandez is assigned to Station 2 in 4S Ranch. The process to hire a new firefighter/paramedic is under way.