Pullman Firefighters Union Warns of Staffing Cuts Amid City Budget Crisis

Part-time reserve firefighters to lose hours, reducing personnel on major incidents

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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The City of Pullman Firefighters Union has announced that the city's budget crisis will lead to the elimination of hours for all part-time reserve firefighters starting on March 16th. The union warns this will reduce staffing and personnel available to respond to major incidents, though they note it is not a reflection on the professionalism or value of the part-time firefighters.

Why it matters

The Pullman Fire Department relies on a mix of full-time and part-time reserve firefighters to provide emergency services to the community. Cutting the part-time staff could strain the department's ability to respond effectively, especially for larger incidents that require more personnel. This highlights the difficult budget decisions cities like Pullman are facing as they grapple with multi-million dollar deficits.

The details

According to the firefighters' union, the city's budget cuts will eliminate all hours for the department's part-time reserve firefighters starting on March 16th. The union says this will reduce the number of personnel available to respond to major incidents, though they emphasize it is not a reflection on the part-time firefighters themselves. The city's own public announcement of the budget cuts did not mention any impacts to the fire department, focusing instead on reductions to parks, recreation, and the library.

  • The firefighters' union announced the staffing cuts will begin on March 16, 2026.
  • The City of Pullman recently raised utility rates to help address a multi-million dollar budget shortfall.

The players

City of Pullman Firefighters Union

The labor union representing firefighters employed by the City of Pullman.

Meghan Ferrin

A spokeswoman for the City of Pullman.

Sean Wells

The new City Administrator for Pullman.

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What they’re saying

“Mayor Benjamin and I are committed to reducing costs and balancing the city's budget while doing everything we can to minimize long-term impacts and preserve both our staff and the core services we provide to the residents of Pullman.”

— Sean Wells, City Administrator (City of Pullman press release)

“The cutbacks will reduce City of Pullman Fire Department personnel on major incidents. The Pullman firefighters' union says the reduction caused by the city's budget crisis is not a reflection of the professionalism, performance, or value of the department's part-time firefighters.”

— Pullman Firefighters Union (Pullman Firefighters Union Facebook post)

What’s next

The Pullman City Council will likely need to address the fire department staffing cuts as part of their ongoing budget deliberations. The firefighters' union has pledged to remain transparent about the impacts on emergency response capabilities.

The takeaway

This situation highlights the difficult choices cities like Pullman must make when facing budget shortfalls, as efforts to balance the books can have real impacts on public safety services. The firefighters' union's transparency about the cuts is commendable, and the city administration's commitment to preserving core services will be tested in the weeks and months ahead.