Norman's firefighters say the clock is ticking. More than a year after a city-funded resource-allocation study landed on officials' desks, union leaders argue that its recommendations are still stuck in neutral while call volumes climb and stations age. They say the result is fatigue, burnout and growing anxiety about whether the department can keep up, just as the city debates whether to bankroll a major, long-term public-safety buildout.
"We're losing time," union president Chris Atteberry told KOKH, saying the study outlined roughly a decade of growth the department needs to prepare for. Atteberry said members are reporting more sleep deprivation, burnout and depression, warning that those conditions could eventually make the department unsustainable. The union is pressing the council to move from study to budget, arguing that delay chips away at both capacity and morale.
Study Lays Out Staffing Shortfalls And Station Moves
The Matrix Consulting Group study, presented to city leaders in early February 2025, sketches out a phased plan of staffing increases, station replacements and relocations to keep pace with Norman's growth. The report says the city would need roughly 115 additional sworn firefighters on top of the current approximate 160, plus several civilian positions, and it maps out new stations, including relocating Station 5 and adding stations 10 to 12 over the next decade. According to the Matrix Consulting Group report hosted by the City of Norman, the projections and facility recommendations are spelled out in detail in the full study.
City Manager Says Price Tag Demands A Phased Rollout
City Manager Darrel Pyle told KOKH that fully implementing the study would take a hefty investment, saying, "you could spend another $40 to $70 million in public safety today," and that city leaders have to balance needs across departments. Pyle said the administration intends to roll changes out in stages, starting with scoping the relocation of Station 5 and planning the next three future fire stations, a process he compared to trying to eat an elephant one bite at a time.
How The Study Reached City Leaders
The public presentation for the Public Safety Allocation Study took place in early February 2025. The City of Norman posted a notice for the February 4, 2025 presentation and hosts materials related to the study on its website. City of Norman materials state that the study relied on data analysis, site visits and community input to shape its recommendations.
What Comes Next
Union leaders say the renewed spotlight could push faster budget decisions, while city officials continue to point to a tight general fund and competing priorities. IAFF Local 2067 highlights the Matrix study on its site and repeats its call for full implementation, saying it is necessary to safeguard both firefighters and the public. For now, scoping and planning, not immediate hiring and construction, appear to be the next concrete steps.
