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Juneau firefighters tell assembly pay and staffing shortfalls are driving recruitment and retention crisis
Summary
Two Juneau Career Firefighters Association representatives told the assembly that low starting pay and falling volunteer numbers are creating critical staffing gaps and urged the city manager and assembly to direct staff to help in negotiations and recruitment.
Two union representatives and career firefighters told the assembly during public participation on Feb. 3 that Capital City Fire & Rescue faces a recruitment and retention crisis driven by wages and understaffing.
Dylan Hay, a full‑time firefighter‑paramedic and IAFF Local 4303 member, described leaving the community as an option because his family could not afford to stay. “When we moved here 5 years ago … life in Juneau has become unattainable for multiple reasons,” Hay said, citing low wages and staff shortages. Hay referenced a February 2024 compensation survey (commissioned by CPJ) that showed starting pay for firefighter EMTs at Capital City Fire and Rescue at $20 per hour (about 9% below regional average) and firefighter‑paramedics roughly 19% below average, increasing recruitment challenges.
Logan Volstead, president of the Juneau Career Firefighters Association, told the assembly call volume has grown from an estimated one to two thousand calls per year historically to more than 5,091 responses last year, while volunteer numbers have declined and 24‑hour career staffing has not increased to match demand. He said there were 18 structure fires last year and “not 1 of them met the response standard set by the National Fire Protection Association,” and that only 10 of those received additional staffing beyond the on‑duty crew.
Volstead said vacancies, upcoming retirements and anticipated extended leaves for military service will further reduce coverage this year and that previous recruiting cycles yielded few successful applicants. He said contract negotiations were to open the following Friday and requested the assembly direct the city manager to assist with recruitment and retention efforts.
No formal action resulted directly from these public comments; however, both speakers asked the assembly to give the city manager direction ahead of contract negotiations to address wages and staffing levels.
Why it matters: Emergency medical and fire response depends on adequate staffing and recruitment. The union representatives framed the problem as both pay compression and operational strain from higher call volume and fewer volunteers. The assembly and city manager — who receive the testimony as part of public participation — can use the information during budget, hiring and bargaining processes.
