Merced Staffs All Fire Stations With Paramedics

The city now provides 24-hour paramedic coverage at every fire station to enhance local emergency medical response.

Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Nursing Jobs

Bold flat-color editorial illustration showing a firefighting hose nozzle beside a medical bag, representing emergency service integration. — Merced officials have completed the staffing of all city fire stations with 24-hour paramedic coverage as of August 2026. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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As of August 2026, every fire station in Merced is staffed with a paramedic around the clock. This milestone follows the expansion of a training partnership between the city and Merced College.

Why it matters

Local officials launched these efforts to improve the quality of medical care provided in the field. The initiative ensures that advanced life support is available immediately to residents regardless of which station responds to a call.

The training program at Merced College lasts three semesters and has already produced 20 medics for American Medical Response, which maintains a total staff of 60 medics.

The players

Merced College

This local institution provides the three-semester paramedic training program necessary for city and county emergency medical staff.

American Medical Response

This private company took over ambulance services in Merced County in January 2026 and employs 60 paramedics.

Merced Fire Department

This municipal agency now staffs every fire station in the city with a paramedic to provide constant emergency medical coverage.

The details

The city funded the initiative by transferring money from the general fund to purchase necessary equipment, building on a 2021 federal grant that trained 12 employees. The program prepares students through intense classroom study and field training scenarios, including simulated rescues in locations like Yosemite National Park.

Riggs Ambulance Service served the county from the 1940s until 2026.
The fire department applied for a federal training grant in 2021.
Merced College began offering paramedic training in January 2023.
American Medical Response became the regional ambulance provider in January 2026.
Paramedics became available at all city fire stations in August 2026.

Market Landscape

The city's move follows a pattern set by federal training support like the Fire Grants and Safety Act, which provides resources for local departments to increase capacity. This shift represents a broader consolidation of emergency services in the region following the transition from private operators like Riggs Ambulance Service to larger providers.

Residents can now expect a paramedic to be available at their local fire station 24 hours a day, potentially reducing wait times for advanced life support. This change aims to provide more consistent medical outcomes for all neighborhoods served by city fire stations.

The takeaway

The move to internalize paramedic training ensures that local emergency services remain resilient even as private ambulance providers change. Residents should note that the department is continuing to evolve its capabilities by planning to place a paramedic on every fire engine in the future.