The Merced City Fire Department, which is home of the future University of California is a rapidly expanding community located in central California. The current population is nearly 70,000, and is expected to increase by another 20,000 with the projected completion of the new U.C. campus in 2004. The department, which holds a class-2 ISO rating, had a call volume of 3,584 last year, and is well involved in confined space & vertical rescue.

The Merced City Fire Department's newest arrivals are: two Peirce Dash pumpers with Tak-4 independent suspension, 1500 gpm, two stage Waterous pump, 250 gpm PTO auxiliary pump for pump and roll operations, two 20 gal. Foam Pro A & B foam system, and a 1600 watt Readyline generator. These engines were placed in service in May 2002 along with a Pierce Dash 85-foot aerial platform, that came equipped with a 10,000 watt Onan generator, which was placed in service Sept. 2001.