Casey Wilson, who has served as interim chief since last year, took the oath of office surrounded by city leaders, firefighters and family members.
"It is very fortunate that I'm given the opportunity to lead such an incredible group of people for such a great community," Wilson said. "I'm very thankful. It's a very emotional day to have my family here supporting me."
Wilson, a longtime member of the Merced Fire Department, said his focus will be on managing growth as the city continues to expand.
"With annexations coming, it's very important that the fire department grows along with the city," Wilson said. "I'm committed to growing the department in a way that ensures efficiency and provides a high level of service to the community."
City officials praised Wilson's leadership and experience.
"It means so much for the city - stability and leadership," said Jennifer Flanchman, public information officer for the City of Merced. "As Merced continues to grow, we have a very proactive city council and city management focused on economic development."
Mayor Matthew Serratto said the department has made significant progress in recent years and expects that to continue under Wilson's leadership.