06/26/2026
*** PRESS RELEASE ***
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information contact:
Kenneth Goslin
President, Lincoln Firefighters Association
[email protected]
LINCOLN FIREFIGHTERS RESPOND TO SEVERE BUDGET CUTS
Following a contentious budget process, the Lincoln Town Council voted 4-3 to adopt a municipal budget that includes a $425,000 reduction (approximately 19%) to the Lincoln Fire Department operating budget. Nearly 80 percent of the department's operating budget is dedicated to personnel, with the remaining funds supporting emergency medical supplies, apparatus maintenance, fuel, equipment, and other operational expenses. Because personnel make up the overwhelming majority of the budget, reductions of this magnitude are expected to result in decreased staffing levels.
The Lincoln Fire Department responds to approximately 2,000 requests for service each year. These incidents range from medical transports and service calls to cardiac arrests, serious motor vehicle crashes, hazardous materials incidents, and structure fires. The department currently operates with four platoons staffed by five firefighters each, providing the ability to manage simultaneous emergencies and safely handle incidents requiring multiple personnel.
Based on the adopted budget, staffing is expected to decrease from five firefighters per shift to four firefighters on most shifts, with one shift anticipated to operate with only three personnel. These reductions will significantly affect the department's ability to respond when multiple emergencies occur at the same time and will reduce the number of personnel immediately available for critical incidents.
Fireground operations will also be affected. Interior structural firefighting is governed by OSHA's two-in/two-out requirement, which requires a minimum number of firefighters on scene before crews may enter an immediately dangerous environment. Reduced staffing will delay interior fire attack until additional personnel arrive, increasing the time before life-saving rescue efforts and fire suppression operations can begin. Even before these proposed staffing reductions, operating with four personnel on a shift would not provide four interior firefighters. Each platoon includes one EMS-only paramedic position that is not assigned to interior structural firefighting. As a result, a four-person shift would typically have only three members available for interior fire operations, making compliance with OSHA's two-in/two-out requirement unattainable until additional personnel arrive.
These EMS-only positions were established to address a critical shortage of paramedics and to ensure the community continues to receive advanced life support services. Lincoln Fire Department currently employs five paramedics, three Advanced EMTs, and eleven EMTs. While this staffing model has helped maintain emergency medical coverage, it also means that reductions in firefighter staffing have an even greater impact on fire suppression capabilities.
These operational concerns were presented repeatedly during Budget Committee meetings and public hearings. They were based on staffing standards, firefighter safety requirements, and the operational realities of emergency response. The firefighters of the Lincoln Fire Department are trained professionals who perform these duties every day, and the concerns expressed throughout the budget process reflect established safety practices and operational experience.
The adopted budget also raises concerns regarding firefighter training. During budget discussions, several councilors suggested that department personnel receive excessive training. Fire service training is not optional; it is fundamental to firefighter safety, emergency medical care, technical rescue, hazardous materials response, and compliance with state and federal standards. A well-trained department reduces risk to both firefighters and the public, while inadequate training increases the likelihood of injury, loss of life, and municipal liability.
The Lincoln Fire Department generates more revenue than any other municipal department, offsetting nearly half of its operating costs through fees for service. Over the past two fiscal years, EMS billing has averaged approximately $650,000 annually, while fire protection contracts with neighboring communities have generated more than $350,000 each year. This revenue substantially reduces the financial burden placed on Lincoln taxpayers. Staffing reductions place this revenue at risk. Fewer personnel will affect the department's ability to respond to simultaneous emergencies, provide interfacility transports, and maintain the level of service required under existing fire protection contracts. Any reduction in service capacity has the potential to reduce revenue while increasing costs that must ultimately be absorbed by local taxpayers.
These reductions also place additional strain on the regional mutual aid system. Lincoln Fire Department responds to more emergency calls than any department between Old Town and Houlton and, because of that call volume, already relies on neighboring departments for assistance during significant incidents. Reduced staffing will increase the frequency with which mutual aid is requested. Over time, if Lincoln requires assistance substantially more often than it is able to provide assistance to neighboring communities, those relationships may become more difficult to sustain. Communities that consistently provide resources without comparable reciprocal support may reasonably seek alternative arrangements, including formal service agreements that could carry additional costs.
When viewed over the long term, the financial risks associated with these staffing reductions may outweigh the immediate budget savings. Potential revenue loss, higher recruitment and training costs resulting from employee turnover, increased overtime, greater property losses from delayed fire suppression, and a higher likelihood of firefighter injuries all have the potential to increase costs for the Town of Lincoln in future years.
Public safety is one of the few municipal services that cannot be paused, delayed, or rescheduled. Emergencies occur without warning, and the resources available at the moment a call is received are the resources that determine the outcome. Our firefighters remain committed to serving the residents of Lincoln with professionalism, compassion, and dedication. We believe residents deserve to understand how these staffing reductions will affect emergency response so they can make informed decisions about the future of public safety in our community.
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