Joel Preheim grew up the oldest of eight kids in the tiny town of Big Creek. His 87-year-old mother still lives in his childhood home across the street from his sister. Fortunately, both of their houses survived the Creek Fire, which destroyed many of the area’s homes. But Preheim wasn’t …
Read More »Firefighter injured trying to save Merced boys in house fire, chief says
The tragic house fire that killed two small boys late Monday “was so hot” it also injured a firefighter wearing full protective gear, according to the fire chief. Chief Michael … Click to Continue »
Read More »Facing huge debt, Atwater may cut firefighter jobs, freeze police
The cash-strapped city of Atwater is looking at cutting more than $ 1 million from its $ 42.4 million budget in a city that already mostly shuts down on Fridays and is … Click to Continue »
Read More »Merced County firefighter was headed to fight a blaze. He ended up in the hospital
A Merced County firefighter suffered minor injuries in a rollover accident in a Cal Fire engine just outside Merced city limits, according to the California Highway Patrol. A firefighter was … Click to Continue »
Read More »Merced County firefighter hurt when car swerves in path
A Merced County firefighter was hurt when while responding to a fire a car swerved in front the engine he was driving on Friday, Feb. 9, 2018, according to California Highway Patrol. … Click to Continue »
Read More »Firefighter from Merced’s memorial procession
Firefighter Clayton Ogden was honored in Merced with a procession for his memorial service on Friday, Aug. 11, 2017. His brother-in-law spoke about him. … Click to Continue »
Read More »‘I’m sad today,’ relative says at memorial service of firefighter from Merced
A line of dozens of fire engines and trucks rolled onto the Merced County Fairgrounds on Friday to bring a firefighter who died tragically this month to his memorial service. … Click to Continue »
Read More »Firefighter welcomed home to Merced has died
A Merced man who was a firefighter with the Santa Cruz Fire Department for about 18 years, and who was escorted by fire engines to his Merced home last month with terminal cancer has died. (Aug. 10, 2017) He was welcomed home on July 19. … Click to Continue »
Read More »Firefighter from Merced ‘one cape short of being a superhero’ has died
A Merced man who was a firefighter with the Santa Cruz Fire Department for about 18 years, and who was escorted by fire engines to his Merced home last month … Click to Continue »
Read More »More stolen firefighter gear found as Atwater police arrest four over butane oil lab
Atwater police say they may have found a piece of stolen firefighter gear while searching the home of a man on parole. Officers were in the 2700 block of Hillcrest … Click to Continue »
Read More »Firefighter battling terminal cancer gets a hero’s welcome home
The sidewalk along Santa Cruz Avenue in Merced was lined up with dozens of people on Tuesday afternoon welcoming home a firefighter and “true hero” who was recently diagnosed with … Click to Continue »
Read More »What’s life like in ‘firefighter city’ at the Merced County Fairgrounds?
Firefighter Dan Kimes spent his 27th wedding anniversary at the Merced County Fairgrounds catching up on paperwork for the Detwiler Fire that’s raging in Mariposa County, far from his wife … Click to Continue »
Read More »Ever wonder how heavy the gear is that each Merced firefighter carries? Hint: It’s a lot
This fun video from the Merced Fire Department illustrates exactly how much gear each firefighter carries to the scene of a fire. Credit: Merced Fire Department … Click to Continue »
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