Uniformed in blue, five East Lansing firefighters sat facing each other in a circle of cushy leather recliners discussing respirator techniques.

The group congregated at the city’s campus station on Shaw Lane as it began its 24-hour shift Wednesday afternoon. The firefighters looked just as if they were at home in the kitchenette and green carpeted living room of the station.

Screeching noises and static from a nearby scanner reminded the quintet it was working and ready to respond to possible emergencies at a moment’s notice.

But the homey fire-station and 20 of the city’s firefighters might not be available to assist the MSU community much longer.

That is if state lawmakers don’t override Gov. John Engler’s revenue-sharing and fire-appropriations veto Tuesday.

Don Carter, president of the local chapter of the International Association of Fire Fighters, is concerned about the loss of jobs in the small community.

“I’ve got young men and women here - with children,” Carter said, adding that one East Lansing firefighter is pregnant.

“She’s expecting her first child and a pink slip all at the same time.”

If Engler’s veto remains uncontested, the lost 16 percent of East Lansing’s general-fund budget would force city officials to close the campus fire station. The 4.6-million loss also would put nearly 40 percent of the department’s personnel out of work.

Firefighters with the lowest seniority would be the first to lose their jobs and Carter’s position as union president would be eliminated.

But Carter said his personal situation isn’t distracting him from his primary concern.

“The amount of care we could give to the city and the protection we could provide would be frightening after the cuts,” he said.

“As soon as the students flood back in