BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) - Vermont fire officials say the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, is putting stress on fire departments statewide.It comes after the federal agency proposed sweeping changes to departments nationwide, changing what they call “emergency response standards” for firefighters.Bristol Fire Chief Brett LaRose says his department’s budget is already stretched thin.“It’s about safety, it’s about health, it’s about having quality equipment, protecting your firefighters. But there is a significant price tag that is associated with these new rules,” said LaRose.He’s worried that with new regulations, his job and the Bristol Fire Department altogether could be in jeopardy.These emergency response standards haven’t been updated since the 1980s, and the federal agency has prepared a more than 600-page document outlining potential changes. It includes additional training, costly biannual physical exams, added staff and updated equipment.Peeker Heffernan, the president of the Vermont State Firefighters’ Association, says the proposed rules may not bode well for many of the state’s small volunteer operations.“Fire departments will continue to exist as they are. Then if something goes wrong, there will be fines from OSHA. That would be my take on it. Or, the fire department will cease to exist altogether. Most departments, their budget is going to at least double,” said Heffernan.The Vermont State Firefighters’ Association is encouraging every fire station in the state to look over the rules and submit a comment on what they think may not work. The comment period ends on July 22.