LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Michigan’s fire departments are battling more than just blazes – they’re fighting a staffing crisis that threatens public safety. With fewer boots on the ground and surging emergency calls, the state’s firefighters are burning the candle at both ends, often working extended hours to cover glaring shortages.

The National Fire Protection Association advises having 100 firefighters per 100,000 residents – a benchmark Michigan falls drastically short of achieving. Michigan lags significantly behind its neighboring states, with fewer than half as many firefighters per resident. Currently, the state averages just 50 firefighters per 100,000 residents.

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Because of this, firefighter unions across Michigan are raising alarms and demanding legislative action to help change minimum staffing levels. But with lawmakers dragging their feet on the issue, the fires are spreading – and time is running out.

Short staffing and long days: firefighters sound the alarm.

Many Michigan fire stations report they can barely meet the needs of their communities. Departments often operate with skeleton crews, forcing firefighters to juggle multiple responsibilities under intense pressure. This isn’t just about inconvenience – it’s about lives and with the legislative session winding down, supporters fear the bill may get extinguished before it passes.

At a rally at the Capitol in Lansing on Tuesday, firefighter Anthony Mojicia said, “We know what we need…A few more numbers, you know, a few more bodies to be able to help us efficiently do our job.”

MPFFU president Matt Shar agreed and added, “This shouldn’t be something that we have to rally about when we’re talking about firefighters safety and our resident safety, which is what we’re most concerned about, is our resident safety and the outcome of what happens whether their house be on fire, an EMS call, or any other tragic incident, we want to be able there to help them and we can’t do that without the proper staffing.”

Firefighters urge lawmakers to act before time runs out.

The union is pushing for legislation, HB 4688, that would allow staffing discussions during collective bargaining meetings, ensuring departments aren’t left scrambling during emergencies. Currently, staffing is a permissible subject of bargaining but if either side doesn’t want to discuss it, then it won’t be discussed.

Joe Dubay, President of Grand Rapids Local 366 says, “House Bill 4688 gives us a seat at the table to talk to a municipality about what’s safe staffing for citizens.”

Opposition sparks concern.

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Those who oppose the bill, like the Michigan Municipal League, say it could become a headache for local administrators who are doing the best with what they have available. Dave Hodgkins, a legislative assistant with the Michigan Municipal League, told CBS News Detroit, “We obviously want

safe staffing levels whether it’s police, fire, corrections officers, the main concern is that it’s simply going to punish municipalities for circumstances that are well outside of their control.”

Playing with fire at the state Capitol.

Legislators appear split on the issue, with some citing concerns about funding while others argue the cost of inaction is far greater. However, firefighter advocates argue that understaffing creates hidden costs: increased burnout, higher turnover rates, and reduced public safety.

With firefighters rallying at the Capitol and urging citizens to pressure their representatives, the movement for improved staffing looks to be gaining momentum as it gets pushed into the spotlight. But as the legislative clock ticks, Michigan’s fire departments are left to wonder if they’ll get the support they need – or be left to fight the flames alone.