Tracy Staiger
Lead Designated Campus Fire Marshal
Phone: 209-746-9542
Email: tstaiger@ucmerced.edu
About Tracy:
Staiger began her career in the fire service with the City of Merced Fire Department in 1985 working in administration and then transitioning to the fire prevention bureau in 2003 as a Fire Inspector. While employed with the City of Merced, Staiger served on the AFSCME Union Board for over 25 years and was a member of the Merced County Critical Incident Stress Management team. Staiger is an active member of the Northern California Fire Prevention Officers holding the position of committee member for Marketing & Membership for several years. Staiger also sat on the Advisory Committee for Automatic Extinguishing Systems with the California Office of the State Fire Marshal from 2012-2015.
In January of 2016 Staiger began a position as a Senior Deputy Fire Marshal with the Santa Clara County Fire Department. Staiger oversaw and was responsible for the engineering division for seven different cities/towns. In her spare time Staiger taught Emergency Preparedness and CPR courses to the citizens of Santa Clara County Fire.
Staiger earned her two Associate of Science degrees in General Education and Fire Protection through Merced College. She also earned a Bachelor of Science degree at Grand Canyon University in Public Safety & Emergency Management.
Staiger joined UC Merced’s Fire and Building Safety Division in February, 2021 as Designated Campus Fire Marshal. Staiger is excited to be serving the campus community. Staiger’s goal is to provide a safe learning and work environment by utilizing the four pillars of prevention – engineering, education, enforcement and evaluation to ensure the safety of students, staff and faculty.
Donald Thrasher
Assistant Fire Marshal
Phone: 209-201-7293
Email: dthrasher@ucmerced.edu
About Donald:
Don joined the UC Merced Fire and Building Safety Division in October 2021. Don previously worked for Merced County as a paid call fire fighter from 2003 to 2012 out of the McKee Station, In 2006 Don spent a season as a Firefighter I for CALFIRE out of the Los Banos Station. In 2007 Don started with the Merced County Fire Prevention Office where he worked as a student intern and then an extra help employee. Don also worked as a contract Fire Prevention Inspector for Madera County between 2008 and 2010. In 2010 he was hired full time by the Merced County Fire Prevention Office and quickly promoted to Inspector III where he worked until joining the FAB’S team.
Rome Arrington
Deputy Campus Fire Marshal
Phone: 209-349-1295
Email: rarrington@ucmerced.edu
About Rome:
Rome Arrington began his career in the fire service with the Stockton Fire Department in 1996-1999 as a volunteer fire fighter with the Stockton Fire Department. Playing baseball throughout his childhood and winning numerous championships in the state, Arrington wanted to work in a team environment. This led him to wanting a career as a fire fighter. During that period, he completed courses at San Joaquin Delta College in the Fire Fighter 1 Academy, an Emergency Medical Technician Certification, and a completion in numerous medical courses. While volunteering with the Stockton Fire Department, Arrington was called to conduct salvage and overhaul for a fire on Mendocino Drive in Stockton, CA in 1997. When he arrived at the fire scene, he was turned away due to a tragic accident that happened during the fire. Arrington later found out that the second story of the home collapsed and trapped two firefighters along with the captain, in smoldering debris. The two firefighters that were trapped died in that fire on Mendocino drive that day. The captain, who was also involved in the collapse, survived that night. This was a tragic time for the City of Stockton Fire Department and the entire city itself. Arrington was 21 years old then and only wanted to work for the Stockton Fire Department. Stockton firefighter jobs were very slim, and the city was only hiring paramedic fire fighters. Arrington volunteered for the city for a couple more years and wanted to pursue a career in fire prevention and educating the public on fire safety. In 2012, Arrington was hired as an intern Fire Inspector with the City of Merced Fire Department. He was able to network and be mentored in fire prevention, through the city's intern program and the Northern California Fire Prevention Officer meetings. Arrington never gave up his passion to pursue his lifelong career goal in fire prevention and stayed focused on obtaining a full-time position. In 2023, Arrington was hired as a Deputy Campus Fire Marshal for the University of Merced. His goal is to help educate, enforce, and help provide safety for the students, staff, and faculty at U.C Merced. He has always acknowledged that fire prevention through the application of fire codes can help save lives and property. Arrington never forgot that day on Mendocino Drive nor the firefighters that sacrificed their lives for others. He has always kept what those firefighters did that night close to his heart.
Growing up in Stockton, CA was not easy for Arrington or his family as times were financially tough. When he was 10 years of age, Arrington worked as a paper carrier for the Stockton Record. Any chance he could, and whatever money was made from the paper out, tips included, he would help his mother and father with groceries, as times were tough in the 80’s. This job would develop him at an early age to be punctual, customer service orientated, respectful to people and their property, a genuine passion to help others, as well as responsibility. These attributes helped Arrington throughout his working career. For the past 16 years, Arrington has been married to a supportive wife and has three amazing children. His youngest son always tells him that he wants to be a firefighter when he grows up. Arrington always assures his son that he can be whatever he wants to be in life with the same principles he applies. Arrington believes that hard work, consistency, humility, and passion for any goals in life will help you get to where you want to be. That place for Rome Arrington is at the University of Merced.
Maria Gladden
Deputy Fire Marshal
Phone: 209-201-3162
Email: mgladden@ucmerced.edu
About Maria:
Joseph Vasquez
Designated Campus Fire Marshal
Phone: 209-631-8250
Email: jvasquez49@ucmerced.edu
About Joe:
Geroge Thomas
Designated Campus Building Official
Phone: 209-205-6394
Email: georgethomas@ucmerced.edu
About George:
Brittney Lopez
Administrative Assistant/Permit Tech
Phone: 209-504-8492
Email: blopez87@ucmerced.edu / fabs@ucmerced.edu
About Brittney:
Brittney was born and raised in Merced, CA. She has worked as an Administrative Assistant for eight years. She joined UC Merced's Fire and Building Safety Division, in March 2022. She is currently working on getting her certification to become a Permit Tech along with attending Merced College for her Bachelors degree. Her goals while working in the Fire and Building Safety Department are to obtain her Permit Tech certification, gain further knowledge about fire and building safety, and help others gain more knowledge as well.
