The Merced County Board of Supervisors approved a lease agreement for a facility at the Castle Commerce Center to serve as a satellite headquarters for the CAL FIRE Madera Mariposa Merced unit. The board’s action, announced by an unidentified staff member, authorizes renovations and a long-term lease intended to bring additional CAL FIRE staff to the county.

According to the meeting record, the relocation is expected to bring roughly 30 to 40 CAL FIRE personnel to Merced County. The building at 3140 Apron Avenue in Atwater will be renovated to meet operational needs. The lease term runs from June 1, 2026, through May 2040 and is projected to generate more than $14,000 per month in revenue for the county, with a 3% annual escalation clause in the agreement.

The board’s approval was recorded in the meeting summary; the transcript did not include a roll-call vote or list of who moved or seconded the motion. The lease’s practical effects depend on completing the described renovations and any necessary regulatory or permitting approvals.

The county indicated the move is intended, in part, to address historical hiring challenges tied to the unit’s prior location by establishing a more accessible local presence.