Lancaster city firefighters voted last night to approve a wage-concession package designed to prevent five layoffs in the 92-member department.

Mayor David S. Smith endorses the package cobbled together by the union, Local 291 of the International Association of Fire Fighters.

Tom Stoughton, chairman of the City Council's finance committee, predicted last night that the full council will approve the package, too.

"Certainly, if they bring forward $340,000 of concessions, that's significant," Stoughton said.

Firefighters have agreed to give back their 3 percent wage increase for 2009, and to reduce minimum-staffing levels to cut back on overtime pay, union President K.J. Watts said.

"The five have their layoff notices in hand, so we're trying to do this as fast as we can because it's going to save their jobs," he said.

The layoffs are scheduled to take effect Feb. 14, but they could be averted if the council votes Feb. 9, as expected, to approve the concession package, Stoughton said.

The total cost to keep the five is about $390,000, so the council would have to find another $50,000 in the budget. Stoughton said he is confident that could be done.

The city administration asked the Fraternal Order of Police and other unionized city workers to consider concessions, too.

The council approved a $25.6 million general-fund budget Monday that lays off five firefighters, leaves police-department staffing at 65 by not filling five officer positions, and leaves two other municipal jobs vacant.

mlane@dispatch.com