Merced Cal Fire captain killed in early morning crash Wednesday

Cal Fire announced that a captain with the Madera-Mariposa-Merced unit, Paul Rotondaro, was killed in a vehicle accident early Wednesday morning in Merced County.

Rotondaro joined Cal Fire MMU as a firefighter in 2006, was promoted to Lt. Fire Apparatus Engineer in 2012 and transferred to the Riverside Unit in 2015. In 2016, he was promoted to Lt. Fire Captain in MMU and became a permanent Fire Captain there.

Cal Fire said Rotondaro was a competent and skilled employee and that his sense of humor, loyalty and willingness to help others will not be forgotten.

Cal Fire said Rotondaro was a dedicated family man and was quoted saying, “I never knew it was possible to love someone so completely and without reservation. My amazing wife gave me two great kids and makes me so happy!”

Rotondaro is survived by his wife, Jennifer, his 13-year-old daughter, Kiersten, and 16-month-old son, Wyatt.

KION 2019