Vanessa ‘Ness’ Herrero has been named as the acting fire chief for the Farmington Fire Department, the action coming at an emergency board meeting earlier this month.

The longtime Escalon Community Ambulance Manager also has served the last few years as chief of the Collegeville Fire Department. Both Farmington and Collegeville are rural departments within San Joaquin County.

The need for an acting chief comes on the heels of resignations from interim chief Conni Bailey, who had been filling in for Fire Chief Matt Bailey while he is on worker’s compensation related to a back injury. Assistant Chief John Kalebaugh also recently tendered his resignation and Fire Captain Ricky Yater submitted paperwork for a six month leave of absence.

Fire board members approved the selection of Herrero at an emergency board meeting on Wednesday night, Feb. 11. The motion, according to minutes from the meeting posted on the department’s website, was to hire Herrero immediately as the temporary emergency acting chief for 10 to 30 hours per week, “for a period of four to six weeks” as the board continues its search for an acting chief. The hiring was passed by a 4-0 vote, with one board position vacant.

Also listed on the department’s website as staff members are Firefighter/EMTs Kyle Araiza, Anthony Cazarez, Sebastian Palada and Troy Pajaro; and Firefighter/EMR Alex Bernardino.

The Board of Directors includes Board President Jeff Briggs, Vice President Jacob ‘Jake’ Samuel, Secretary/Treasurer David Cross and Director Chris Lemos, with the board clerk position currently listed as vacant.

The fire station is at 25474 Highway 4 in Farmington, at the intersection of Highway 4 and Escalon-Bellota Road.

Regular fire board meetings are the fourth Monday of the month at 7 p.m. at the fire station; the Feb. 23 agenda included some informational items including an update on the status of the Farmington Fire Volunteer Association as well as an update on changes to the station layout to accommodate sleeping quarters. Under action items, the board was to discuss and possibly take action regarding the one position open on the Board of Directors. The meeting was after press time for The Times.