Wausau committee recommends referendum after fire chief warns staffing shortfalls threaten response capacity

The City of Wausau Committee of the Whole voted Tuesday to recommend that the common council place a referendum on the April 7, 2026 ballot to help fund firefighter staffing, following a presentation from Fire Chief Jeremy Kopp that described growing calls for service and operational strains tied to stagnant staffing.

Chief Kopp told the committee the department has operated with roughly the same staffing model for more than five decades while its workload and responsibilities have increased, and that cross-staffing ambulances and engines frequently leaves apparatus short at critical moments. "When the alarm sounds, our firefighters don't hesitate," he said, adding that limited staffing can force single firefighters to perform tasks that normally require teams.

The recommendation follows Kopp's description of recent recruitment efforts and a FEMA SAFER grant awarded in 2022 that funded additional positions. Kopp said six apprentices are expected to complete paramedic certification in the coming weeks and count toward daily staffing beginning Jan. 1, 2026. He told the committee call volume is climbing and the…