Potential Fire Merger

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The Common Councils of Wauwatosa and West Allis have each voted to approve an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) to move forward with the creation of a joint fire department, which will be named Milwaukee Metro Fire Rescue.

Timeline of Next Steps

Each city's Common Council appointed three members to its Governing Board and three members to its Fire Commission. The Governing Board functions like a Common Council for the joint department, overseeing certain budget and policy decisions. The Fire Commission is responsible for the hiring, firing, and discipline of fire employees, per state law.
A nationwide recruitment will start for Milwaukee Metro Fire Rescue Fire Chief, with a goal to have the person hired by Fall 2026.
Milwaukee Metro Fire Rescue will start official operations in early 2027.

Background Information

The cities of Wauwatosa and West Allis received a report from a joint study evaluating the potential for shared fire and emergency medical services. Download the final report. The goal of the study was to explore whether a merger could maintain or improve service levels while achieving greater operational or financial efficiency.

The merged department could reduce costs through operational efficiencies. For example, the City could replace a ladder truck with a lower-cost engine and remove another from the reserve fleet, saving roughly $3 million. The merger also makes the City eligible to pursue up to $20 million in state innovation funding.

Milwaukee Metro Fire Rescue Governing Board Meetings

Agendas, minutes, and a link to join the meeting virtually will be posted on Wauwatosa's meeting portal.

April 15, 2026 5:30 PM West Allis City Hall
May 20, 2026 5:30 PM Wauwatosa City Hall
June 17, 2026 5:30 PM West Allis City Hall
July 15, 2026 5:30 PM Wauwatosa City Hall
August 19, 2026 5:30 PM West Allis City Hall
September 16, 2026 5:30 PM Wauwatosa City Hall
October 21, 2026 5:30 PM West Allis City Hall
November 18, 2026 5:30 PM Wauwatosa City Hall
December 16, 2026 5:30 PM West Allis City Hall

Past Public Meetings about the Fire Merger

September 2 - Resident Information Session at the West Allis City Hall Art Gallery (7525 W. Greenfield Ave.) from 4:30-6:30 p.m.
September 2 – West Allis Common Council
September 9 – Wauwatosa Common Council (presentation of the report)
September 16 – West Allis Common Council
September 18, 4:30 - 6:30 pm - Information session in Wauwatosa held in Lower Civic Center in City Hall, 7725 W North Avenue
September 23 - Wauwatosa Government Affairs
September 30 – Wauwatosa Common Council
November 11 - Wauwatosa Government Affairs
December 9 - Wauwatosa Government Affairs
December 16 - Wauwatosa Government Affairs
December 16 - Wauwatosa Common Council
January 20 - Wauwatosa Government Affairs
February 10 - Wauwatosa Government Affairs
February 24 - Wauwatosa Common Council

How to Submit Public Comment

For Wauwatosa, both in-person and Zoom formats are available for Common Council and Government Affairs meetings. You can provide public comment at the Government Affairs meeting. You can also submit public comment using our eComment feature on the meeting portal: Wauwatosa.net/meetingportal

Frequently Asked Questions

Will response times be affected?

Will a fire station close?

How much money would a merger save the city?

According to the study, the estimated savings amount to around $7 million for each community over five years. For example, we would likely merge the number of reserve engines and reserve ambulances between our two organizations. Additionally, we expect there will be operational efficiencies. For example, we would only have one fire chief. Without a merger, Wauwatosa would be looking at cuts to staff and service in the coming years. This mitigates the continuing history of consistent cuts to the fire department in the last 15 years.

Separately, recent changes to the State Innovation Fund rules offer a greater opportunity for the merged department to be eligible for an Innovation Fund grant. The annual payment under the grant could be over $4.25 million annually, or somewhere between $16 million and $21 million each over the 5 years of the program, depending on funding availability in the Innovation Fund.

Will my taxes go up because of this?

It’s possible that a joint fire department could increase taxes. Both fire departments are currently underfunded. Under state law, a merged department would be allowed to increase its budget by 2% plus inflation each year. That means the joint department could be properly funded, which would lead to better equipment and resources. An accountable department structure would ensure those funds are used responsibly.

What happens if one city backs out?

What happens to the Police and Fire Commissions of each city?

What budget control will both Common Councils have on the merged departments?

Who will be the fire chief?

How will this affect our contract?

Will firefighters wear the same uniform?

What positions are being cut?

The consultant’s report outlines some recommended changes that could be made with a combined organization. These reductions, combined with adjustments to apparatus and shared expenses, could lower the cost to run a merged fire service by approximately $7 million.

It is not projected that any employees will be laid off, as attrition will address these vacancies. Our priority remains to maintain high-quality service to the community while being responsible stewards of public resources.

Wauwatosa, WI