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Coeur d'Alene approves hiring three firefighters, outfits to reduce overtime costs
Summary
Council approved hiring three additional firefighters for the fall 2026 probationary academy and the unbudgeted purchase of turnout gear; the fire chief said the moves will reduce constant‑staffing overtime and avoid a future academy cost.
The Coeur d'Alene City Council on June 16 approved hiring three additional firefighters to enter the fall 2026 probationary fire academy and approved an unbudgeted purchase to outfit the new hires.
Fire Chief John Fugate told council the three added positions — one assigned to each shift — will reduce reliance on constant‑staffing overtime and provide buffer capacity in the event of retirements during the coming years. Chief Fugate said the city currently has eight open positions with anticipated retirements and that adding three probationary firefighters could save roughly $249,000–$300,000 in constant‑staffing overtime when accounting for the lower probationary pay rate and avoided overtime academies. He described academy and outfitting costs: about $50,000 to run an academy and $12,903 per new firefighter to outfit turnout and PPE.
Council approved the hiring motion and then approved a related unbudgeted purchase of turnout gear (total outfitting cost about $38,710 for three hires). Council members stressed public‑safety priority and asked staff to return with the purchasing itemization. Chief Fugate said the three probationary firefighters will be assigned one per shift and will be used to backfill vacancies and to improve operational efficiency when there are no vacancies.
Council expects the hires to be added into the next budget and noted an upcoming separate agenda item regarding outfitting funding. The council recorded an affirmative roll-call vote on both items.
