BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Bethlehem firefighters filled City Hall this week, urging city leaders to confront what they describe as growing strain on the department as overtime climbs and call volume remains high.
City Council member Grace Crampsie Smith, whose father served as a firefighter, said the issue is deeply personal for her. She recalled how her family’s life changed when her father suffered a serious medical emergency while responding to a call, and said that experience shapes how she views the current debate.
Crampsie Smith argued that the city must do more to ensure there are enough firefighters on duty, stressing that first responders put their health and safety on the line every shift and should not be stretched thin.
City officials, however, maintained that the department is funded to the level approved by council. City Administrator Eric Evans said he believes the overall public safety budget — which covers police, fire and EMS — is appropriately set, even as overtime remains a concern.
Fire Chief Warren Griffin told council the department is currently at its authorized strength of 106 firefighters. He acknowledged that overtime is still an issue but said the city is operating within the staffing levels approved in the budget. Like many chiefs across the country, he noted, he would welcome more personnel if funding allowed.
A significant part of the discussion focused on a comprehensive study the city plans to commission to review fire and EMS operations. The study is expected to examine call volume, staffing patterns and paramedic deployment, among other topics.
Evans said the city has received multiple proposals from consulting firms. Mayor J. William Reynolds told council that seven responses came in and emphasized that staffing is only one piece of the broader review. Officials said they hope to recommend a consultant in early 2026.
City leaders also stressed that the upcoming analysis will go beyond recent reports prepared by firefighter unions, which largely centered on staffing levels and station coverage. Union data has warned of shortages they say could impact response times and coverage across the city.
Councilmember Bryan Callahan pointed to the strong turnout of firefighters at the meeting as a sign of how serious those concerns are. He questioned the need for yet another formal study, saying the message from the rank and file was already clear.
After the discussion, council voted on several ordinances tied to the proposed 2026 budget. Crampsie Smith and Callahan opposed measures involving the general fund and the fire budget, saying they want to explore adding more firefighters before final approval.
Residents were encouraged to get involved in the process. Council invited the public to attend a budget hearing at 6 p.m. Thursday at City Hall, where the fire department’s funding will be discussed alongside police and community and economic development.
