Fire chief urges staff stabilization, seeks overhires, inventory controls and training funds
May 13, 2026 | Laramie City Council, Laramie City, Albany County, Wyoming
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Fire Chief Dan Johnson presented the Laramie Fire Department's FY27 budget priorities during the May 12 work session, emphasizing sustained staffing levels and investments to reduce overtime and operational risk.
Johnson said the department is operating with approximately 42 sworn firefighters, nominally allocated as 14 per shift, and that injuries, vacations and other absences can drop actual staffed numbers well below the target. "The most important thing that we can achieve is stabilizing your staff," Johnson said, arguing that 'overhire' positions serve as a bridge to cover attrition and preserve minimum staffing without excessive overtime.
Key requests Johnson outlined included a clerical position to replace a part-time administrative employee, continued funding for a limited-term 'overhire' program to restore minimum staffing, a civilian inspector/installer position focused on inspections and life-safety work, and adoption of an inventory-management system (PTRX) to track supplies with limited shelf lives (for example, certain drugs and IV supplies). He also flagged rising PPE and training-supply costs and asked council to support ongoing training investments; the transcript notes each firefighter completes about "240 hours of training a year." Johnson said the department has applied for multiple federal and state grants (e.g., FEMA, SHSP) and carries some capital from prior voter‑approved projects to close out training‑facility work.
Council members pressed for more precise metrics on minimum shift staffing and recent injury impacts; Johnson replied with the department's FTE counts and noted seasonal and multiple-call impacts on availability. He cautioned that capital apparatus procurements are expensive and that bids in the current cycle had been limited.
Next steps: staff will provide supplemental detail in the budget book and follow-up responses to specific council questions about minimum staffing numbers and grant prospects.
Johnson said the department is operating with approximately 42 sworn firefighters, nominally allocated as 14 per shift, and that injuries, vacations and other absences can drop actual staffed numbers well below the target. "The most important thing that we can achieve is stabilizing your staff," Johnson said, arguing that 'overhire' positions serve as a bridge to cover attrition and preserve minimum staffing without excessive overtime.
Key requests Johnson outlined included a clerical position to replace a part-time administrative employee, continued funding for a limited-term 'overhire' program to restore minimum staffing, a civilian inspector/installer position focused on inspections and life-safety work, and adoption of an inventory-management system (PTRX) to track supplies with limited shelf lives (for example, certain drugs and IV supplies). He also flagged rising PPE and training-supply costs and asked council to support ongoing training investments; the transcript notes each firefighter completes about "240 hours of training a year." Johnson said the department has applied for multiple federal and state grants (e.g., FEMA, SHSP) and carries some capital from prior voter‑approved projects to close out training‑facility work.
Council members pressed for more precise metrics on minimum shift staffing and recent injury impacts; Johnson replied with the department's FTE counts and noted seasonal and multiple-call impacts on availability. He cautioned that capital apparatus procurements are expensive and that bids in the current cycle had been limited.
Next steps: staff will provide supplemental detail in the budget book and follow-up responses to specific council questions about minimum staffing numbers and grant prospects.
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