Fairfield firefighters are set to receive their first raise in three years.

Fairfield and the firefighters union, The International Association of Firefighters Local 4010, have reached an agreement that would give firefighters a 3 percent raise for all ranks, plus a step increase at 20 years for the rank of captain, according to the city. This step increase would amount to an additional 1 percent raise for the three captain positions.

The raises will cost the city an extra $45,000 a year, according to Mary Hopton, the city’s finance director.

The union has also agreed to encourage use of a high-deductible health plan. If a firefighter chooses to remain on the traditional health plan, that member will be contractually responsible to assume the difference in the city’s cost between the two plans. This would eliminate the city’s cost of subsidizing the traditional plan’s premium, which is higher.

Twenty-six firefighters will see the wage increase that equates to 2.4 percent after the new health insurance rates are in effect, Hopton said. The raises go into effect April 4, and the new health insurance rates go into effect in August.

The department has about 75 firefighters and is about to hire three to replace personnel who have left, according to Capt. Gregory Cifuentes.

In 2011, the city entered a collective bargaining agreement with the firefighters union that there would be a pay freeze for two years.

Fairfield City Council will vote on the raises at its meeting today.