Manteca Firemen open a wrecked car to free the trapped passenger.Photo byCity of Manteca

Manteca, Calif. – From 2017 to 2022, the Manteca Fire Department saw a 43% rise in call volume. In 2022, it responded to 10,852 calls for service, making it the second busiest fire department in San Joaquin County. With the increase in calls for service, the City of Manteca needs more fire personnel, facilities, and equipment to ensure the safety of its residents, according to Manteca Fire Chief David Marques.

Fire Chief Marques underscores the need for additional fire resources, stating, “Fire Station 1, built in 1965, and Station 3, built in 1985, are in dire need of replacement. These stations have issues such as leaky roofs, faulty fire doors that fall on fire trucks, and insufficient living quarters for firefighters.” Marques adds, “The stations were designed for two people but now accommodate three, with no eating area, gym, nor individual sleeping quarters.”

Manteca Fire Chief David Marques underscores the need for additional fire resources, stating, “Fire Station 1, was built in 1965Photo byCity of Manteca

“A new fire station (Station 6) is needed in the southwest of town to provide adequate fire protection for several thousand homes and ensure response times of five minutes or less. The cost of building a new station ranges from $7 to $15 million, and the City’s current budget cannot accommodate these expenses. In the meantime, the Fire Department is addressing the issues with temporary solutions, patching up broken infrastructure, and using the current facilities until a long-term solution can be implemented,” said Fire Chief Marques.

Manteca Fire Chief David Marques underscores the need for additional fire resources.Photo byCity of Manteca

Fire Personnel

Chief Marques has proposed adding nine new fire personnel to staff Fire Station 2 on Union Avenue to improve emergency response capabilities. However, funding for this request is unavailable in the current fiscal year.

Equipment Challenges

“The City’s aging fire engines frequently require costly repairs, with some in service well beyond their recommended lifespan. Funding is urgently needed for four new engines over the next four years to ensure reliable service. The recent acquisition of an Aerial Tiller Truck featuring a 110-foot ladder underscores efforts to enhance firefighting capabilities for taller structures in Manteca,” reported Fire Chief Marques.

The new fire truck is an Arial Tiller Truck with a driver's cabin at both the front and back. It cost $2 million and was purchased in 2022.Photo byCity of Manteca

“Each custom-made engine takes about four years to complete. Two engines have already been ordered but not yet paid for, and two more still need to be ordered. However, funding will be required to do so,” explained Chief Marques.

The annual repair budget for the fire engines is $150,000. For instance, a fire engine purchased new in 2015 recently experienced a blown engine, resulting in a $50,000 repair bill. This fire engine will be out of service for several months. According to Manteca Fire Department reports Chief Marques said that it is not uncommon for the engines to be in the repair shop for an extended period, causing delays in reaching fires and people needing medical attention.

“There have been occasions where the Manteca Fire Department had no backup engines available, necessitating aid from a neighboring fire department, which could take 15 minutes or more to arrive on site,” said Fire Chief Marques.

Training and Facilities

According to Manteca Department reports, the department lacks dedicated training facilities and relies on makeshift sites and neighboring cities for training opportunities. The need for a local training facility to minimize response disruptions during training sessions is paramount.

“Additional funding is needed to bring the Manteca Fire Department up to industry standards. The department is doing everything in its power to keep the residents in the City of Manteca Safe, but this is not sustainable,” stated Chief Marques.

About the City of Manteca

Manteca is a full-service City with police, fire, public works, water, trash and sewer services. Incorporated in 1918, Manteca has a diverse population of 88,772. In the heart of California, Manteca is alive with opportunities. This family-friendly City, San Joaquin County’s third largest, is quickly approaching 90,000 residents and is the state’s 6th fastest-growing City. Manteca thrives on multiple fronts with key infrastructure and commercial, residential, and recreational developments. The City has 28,454 households with a median home price of $500,017. The median annual household income is $118,814.