By ANDREW HARDY
After nearly two decades of faithful and effective service to the Merced community — and a little over a year acting as an interim leader — Fire Chief Casey Wilson was officially sworn into duty on Aug. 28 during a ceremony at City Hall.
Chief Wilson found himself surrounded by a crowd of dignitaries, community members, and fellow firefighters, including former Fire Chief Derek Parker who described his successor as a “true role model.”
Wilson thanked Parker, along with Merced Mayor Matthew Serratto, members of the Merced City Council, City Manager Scott McBride and his team at the Merced Fire Department.
“I will work tirelessly to grow and strengthen the department as our city continues to grow,” Wilson told those gathered. “I pledge to be innovative in our approach to public safety, always seeking efficiency while never compromising the quality of service our community deserves. … I will ensure that our department continues to provide exceptional service and demonstrate visionary leadership to meet today’s challenges while also building the foundation for a safer, stronger future.
“God willing, I am committed to providing strong, stable leadership for the next 10 years, while also preparing the next generation of leaders to carry this department forward for decades to come.
“For those who know me well, you know this kind of attention is not what I seek. My heart lies in service — serving our people, our city, and our community to the best of our ability. But I am truly grateful for your presence and support today, and in the years ahead.”
Wilson began his career as a firefighter on Oct. 10, 2005. He was quickly promoted to Fire Engineer on July 2, 2007, and later promoted to Fire Captain on Nov. 28, 2011. Wilson became Deputy Fire Chief on April 22, 2019 shortly before the chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic. Later, he returned to act as an Administrative Battalion Chief on July 1, 2021.
Having served in practically every role that one can within the department, Wilson was named the acting interim Fire Chief on April 29, 2024. This ultimately led to his recent appointment as permanent Fire Chief on July 30, 2025.