By Sarah Jimenez
Fresno Bee (California)
Copyright 2006 McClatchy Newspapers, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
Becoming a fire chief always has been one of Mario Garcia’s goals.
The Porterville Fire Department’s chief of operations accomplished that ambition last week when the city named him the new fire chief.
Garcia, 50, will replace Frank Guyton, who is retiring in December. Guyton also is the deputy city manager. Garcia takes over the department Dec. 30.
“I’m looking forward to the challenge,” Garcia said. “It’s been a lifelong dream.”
City Manager John Longley said the city went through an internal recruitment process. Officials were pleased Garcia accepted the job, he said.
“He’s very, very responsive ... very knowledgable,” Longley said. “He’s just an outstanding manager.”
Garcia will oversee a department of more than 50 firefighters, including 36 paid firefighters and about 20 volunteers. He said one big task he will tackle is planning construction of the city’s third fire station.
Garcia, who grew up in Porterville, started his career with the agency in April 1979, about two years after graduating from high school. He worked with the city until 1987, when he took a job with the California Office of the State Fire Marshal.
Garcia returned in January 1992 after the state office cut 35 jobs, including his post.
“My father always told me not to burn bridges because you never know when you’ll have to cross over them again,” he said.
Education has always been an important part of Garcia’s life, he said. He earned his associate’s degree in fire technology from Porterville College in 1982 while working for the Fire Department.
He also holds certifications as an arson investigator, fire-prevention officer and fire-code inspector.
This year, Garcia completed his bachelor’s degree in fire science at Cogswell Polytechnical College in Sunnyvale through a distance-learning program.
He said his wife, Minnie, and two sons were very supportive while he went back to school.
“I felt to further my career — as well as professional goals — I needed to continue my education,” he said. “It’s definitely paid off.”