03/13/2026
No firefighter should ever lose their job for speaking up about public safety.
Firefighters should never be punished for raising concerns about the safety of their coworkers or the communities they serve.
For months, the Tennessee Professional Fire Fighters Association has been aware of the concerns raised by Clarksville Fire Fighters Association - LOCAL 3180 regarding pay, staffing shortages, fatigue, and the impact these issues can have on public safety. We have worked alongside these firefighters as they sought to bring these concerns forward.
The lawsuit filed is part of that effort to ensure their voices are heard and that the citizens of Clarksville understand the challenges their firefighters have been facing.
Let us also be clear: the termination of these firefighters was wrong. These members had no disciplinary history on their records, and they should not have been fired for raising concerns that directly impact firefighter safety and the safety of the community.
When firefighters can’t rely on their chief to prioritize issues directly impacting staffing and public safety, one of the only ways firefighters can advocate for safer working conditions and better service to their communities is by speaking directly to the public and their elected officials.
When firefighters raise concerns about staffing levels, training, equipment, or working conditions, it is not about politics — it is about public safety.
The Tennessee Professional Fire Fighters Association stands with firefighters who use their voice to advocate for their profession and the citizens they serve. Firefighters should be able to raise concerns, participate in their union, and advocate for their departments without fear of retaliation.
We hope city leadership will take this opportunity to reflect on these events and work toward solutions that respect firefighters and strengthen public safety for the citizens of Clarksville.
Supporting firefighters means supporting those willing to stand up for safer fire departments and safer communities across Tennessee.
A group of five former Clarksville firefighters are suing the City of Clarksville for unlawful termination, arguing they were fired in retaliation for participating in a union campaign to push for higher wages.