A former Wilson County firefighter, who also served as union president, is suing the county after he was terminated after speaking to the media about staffing concerns.

In the fall of 2025, Colton Young explained to WKRN how the county staffed engines with two firefighters, telling the television station: “We need to be able to have the staffing to be able to provide the highest level of care that our citizens and guests expect and we want to give,

He has filed a 30-page federal lawsuit, WKRN reports.

Young alleges that he was fired for “Engaging in First Amendment Protected Activity," calling the termination retaliation.

Young was president of the Wilson County Professional Fire Fighters Association, IAFF Local 4238 at the time.

Two months after the news interview, received a notice that he was being investigated for “disrespectful behavior" and his termination followed shortly after.

Matthew Tomek, president of the Tennessee Professional Fire Fighters Association called the county's actions "very disheartening."

“He was doing what his membership elected him to do: speaking on behalf of the members and speaking on matters of public concern and public safety,” Tomek told WKRN. "We would like to see Wilson County put Colton back to work in the position that he was in and pay him his backpay and refrain from disciplining employees for speaking on matters of public concern.”