Talk about the possibility of closing 16 fire companies overshadowed Wednesday's EMT graduation ceremony on Randalls Island where newly-installed Fire Commissioner Salvatore Cassano admitted the department is facing some tough choices as it seeks to trim nearly $100 million from its budget.

"As the chief of department, I didn't want to close firehouses. As the fire commissioner, I don't want to close firehouses. And I'm sure the mayor doesn't want to close firehouses, but the budget is very grim," Cassano said.

Cassano said the mayor's preliminary budget, set for release Thursday, does not include funding for 16 fire companies that were saved last year when the City Council restored $17 million to the FDNY's budget. That money runs out on June 30th.

The fire department hasn't identified which companies will close if another last minute deal isn't reached, but sources say four companies that were temporarily closed overnight to save money last summer will likely be on the list -- Engine 4 in Lower Manhattan, Engine 161 on Staten Island, Engine 271 in Brooklyn and Engine 53 in the Bronx.

And while the FDNY won't confirm the locations, the rumors have residents near Engine 4 very worried.

"I think it's a bad idea. I think you need all the firemen that you have. And in a crisis situation, they're gonna be sorry," said Lower Manhattan resident Al Fortunato.

Uniformed Firefighters Union President Stephen Cassidy said he's not shocked to hear 16 companies are back on the chopping block. He also said his union will once again do everything possible to make sure those closures don't take place.

"Sixteen fire companies would be devastating to the fire department and to the public. One is unacceptable," Cassidy said. "So we're going to do what we can to try and eliminate it. If we have to have a battle with City Hall on this, we'll do whatever we have to to make the public aware of how it's going to compromise their public safety."

Cassidy said he's prepared to talk to the city about different ways to save money instead of closing companies. He was also quick to say he won't budge on issues like staffing and that he won't speculate about rumors of layoffs.