Lincoln Fire Rescue Department (Nebraska)

History[]

The first of Lincoln's Fire Companies originally banded together February 9th, 1872. They numbered between 40 to 50 men and boasted one "Steamer" (Chapin #1), two hose carts, and paraphernalia to outfit a bucket brigade. On June 4, 1877 the membership rose to 69 men, continuing to increase until finally it became necessary to divide the force into two divisions, termed respectively, No. 1 and No. 2, with specially appointed Captains.

On August 28, 1875, the City purchased the first two horses to pull the steamer.

During 1879 the volunteer firefighters responded to 17 alarms, saving a total of $90,750 worth of property, suffering an incredibly small loss of only $2,250 on the whole.

A citizen's petition was finally presented to the City Council in December 1885, calling for the establishment of a full-time paid Fire Department. The Council quickly voted to establish one full-time, paid company to co-exist with the two volunteer companies. The first paid Fire Company was located at Engine House #2, on the corner of 10th & Q Streets. The volunteer fire companies would last just one more year before fading forever from the scene.

The Lincoln Fire Department began its existence as one hose company with the equipment consisting of one hose cart and two horses. The steamers, and other apparatus remained with the volunteer companies. Friday January 22, 1886, marks the date of the very first paid Fire Department alarm. In January 1887, the size of the Lincoln Fire Department was increased to three companies, adding 35 men to the roster, many of whom not too surprisingly, had been experienced members of the volunteer companies.

The Lincoln Fire Department of 1920, under the leadership of Chief Neil T. Sommer consisted of 52 men assigned to the four different fire stations throughout the city: Station No. 1, Headquarters at 10th and Q Street; Station No. 2 at 2300 O Street; Station No. 3 at 1223 F Street; and, Station No. 4 at 844 North 27th Street.

One of the most significant events that occurred was when the last horses were sold in 1919. The replacement of a company's horses by a gasoline engine signified the motorization of the fleet.

Fire Stations[]

Station	Address	In Service	Notes
8	2760 South 17th Street	1958 - Oct 3, 2022	Demolished, rebuilt on site, 2022-2024.
10	1440 Adams Street	September 1965 - July 13, 2019
12	2201 South 84th	1975 - 2019	Still stands
11	3401 West Luke	July 1979 - July 24, 2018	On airport land, still stands

Companies[]

Company	Date	Actions/Notes
Engine 15	Oct. 30, 2019	Organized
Engine 16	May 27, 2020	Organized
Truck 12	May 1, 2020	Organized

Apparatus Roster[]

All pump/tank measurements are in US gallons.

Fire Station 1 - 1801 Q Street[]

Built 1966

Engine 1 (35965) - 2019 Spartan ER Metro Star (1250/500/20F) (SO#219027-1)

Truck 1 (38225) - 2023 Spartan Gladiator EMFD / Smeal (-/-/105' rear-mount ladder)

Utility 1 - Ford F-800

Battalion 1 (35602) - 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 4x4

F-16 (Reserve Battalion) (35603) - 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 4x4

Medic 21 (Reserve) (32272) - 2015 Chevrolet Express 4500 / 2005 Road Rescue / 2015 FD-remount

Tech Rescue trailer

Fire Station 2 - 1545 North 33rd Street[]

Built 1990

Engine 2 (35968) - 2019 Spartan ER Metro Star (1250/500/20F) (SO#219027-4)

Medic 2 (35420) - 2019 Ford F-450 / Braun Chief XL

Medic 2 - 2025 Ford F-550 / Braun Chief XL (Not in service)

Fire Station 3 - 121 South 2nd Street[]

Built 1973

Engine 3 (35971) - 2019 Spartan ER Metro Star (1250/500/20F) (SO#219027-5)

Medic 3 (36313) - 2022 Ram 4500 / Braun Chief XL (SN#9203)

Fire Station 4 - 5600 South 27th Street[]

Built 1990

Engine 4 - (34443) - 2017 Spartan Metro Star / Smeal (1250/500/20F) (SO#46XX) (Ex-Engine 1, ex-Engine 14)

Medic 4 - 2024 Ford F-450 / Braun Chief XL

Medic 24 - 2015 Chevrolet Express 4500 / 2006 Road Rescue / 2015 FD-remount

Fire Station 5 - 3640 Touzalin Avenue[]

Built 1971

Engine 5 (35967) - 2019 Spartan ER Metro Star (1250/500/20F) (SO#219027-3)

Truck 5 (37016) - 2022 Spartan Gladiator / Smeal (-/-/105' rear-mount)

Medic 5 (34439) - 2018 Ford F-450 / 2011 Braun Chief XL / 2018 FD-remount (Ex-Medic 10, ex-Medic 3)

Fire Station 6 - 5051 South 48th Street[]

Built 1971

Engine 6 (35426) - 2019 Spartan Metro Star / Smeal (1250/500/20F) (SO#S217230-1)

Medic 6 (35976) - 2019 Ford F-450 / Braun Chief XL

Medic 6 - 2025 Ford F-550 / Braun Chief XL (Not in service)

Fire Station 7 - 1345 South Cotner Boulevard[]

Built 1954

Engine 7 (35970) - 2019 Spartan ER Metro Star (1250/500/20F) (SO#219027-6)

Medic 7 (32738) - 2017 Ram 4500 / 2011 Braun Chief XL / 2017 FD-remount

Fire Station 8 - 2760 South 17th Street[]

Built 2024

Engine 8 (35969) - 2019 Spartan ER Metro Star (1250/500/20F) (SO#219027-2)

Truck 8 (34429) - 2017 Spartan Gladiator / Smeal (-/-/105' rear-mount) (SO#4680)

Medic 8 (35106) - 2016 Ram 4500 / 2011 Braun Chief XL / 2016 FD-remount

Medic 8 - 2025 Ford F-550 / Braun Chief XL (Not in service)

Fire Station 9 - 901 North Cotner Boulevard[]

Built 1965

EMS 1 (36127) - 2020 Chevrolet Tahoe 4x4

Engine 9 (35966) - 2019 Spartan ER Metro Star (1250/500/20F) (SO#219027-7)

Fire Station 10 - 4421 North 24th Street[]

Built 2019

Engine 10 - 2022 Spartan ER Metro Star (1250/500/20F)

Medic 10 - 2022 Ram 4500 / Braun Chief XL

Brush 10 (32026) -2022 Ford F-550 4x4 / Danko (150/400/12F) (SO#Q-0619)

Fire Station 11 - 4600 West Adams Street[]

Built 2018

Engine 11 (32282) - 2015 Spartan Metro Star X / Smeal (1250/500/20F) (SO#4341) (Ex-Engine 2)

Fire Station 12 - 4405 S 84th Street[]

Built 2019

Engine 12 (34445) - 2017 Spartan Metro Star / Smeal (1250/500/20F) (SN#4683)

Truck 12 (34428) - 2017 Spartan Gladiator / Smeal (-/-/105' rear-mount) (SO#4679) (Ex-Truck 7)

Medic 212 (32021) - 2016 Chevrolet Express 4500 / 2006 Road Rescue / 2016 FD-remount

Tender 12 - 2025 Freightliner M2 106 / Danko (750/3000) (SN#T-472)

Water Rescue trailer

Fire Station 13 - 1700 South Coddington Avenue[]

Built 1981

Engine 13 (31367) - 2006 E-One (SO#130207) (Ex-Engine 7)

Fire Station 14 - 5435 NW 1st Street[]

Built 1997

Engine 14 (35993) - 2022 Spartan ER Metro Star (1250/500/20F)

Air Unit 14 - 2010 Isuzu box truck

Haz Mat 14 - 2011 Pierce Arrow XT glider / 1994 Marion walk-in (SN#24111; 50600) (Ex-University of California Davis Fire Department)

Medic 214 (32270) - 2015 Chevrolet Express 4500 / 2005 Road Rescue / 2015 FD-remount

Fire Station 15 - 6601 Pine Lake Road[]

Built 2019

Battalion 2 - 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 4x4

Engine 15 (34444) - 2017 Spartan Metro Star / Smeal (1250/500/20F) (SO#4682) (Ex-Engine 3, ex-Engine 10)

Tender 15 - 2025 Freightliner M2 106 / Danko (750/3000) (SN#T-473)

Fire Station 16 - 9765 Boathouse Road[]

Built 2020

Brush 1 - 1983 GMC / Smeal flatbed

Engine 16 (32730) - 2015 Spartan Metro Star X / Smeal (1250/500/20F) (SO#4417) (Ex-Engine 4)

Medic 216 - 2015 Chevrolet Express 4500 / 2005 Road Rescue / 2015 FD-remount

Maintenance - 300 South Street[]

(Training) - 2006 E-One pumper (1250/500/20F) (SO#13020x) (Ex-Engine 9)

Reserve Apparatus[]

Truck 21 - 2011 Spartan Gladiator 6x4 / Smeal (-/-/105' rear-mount ladder) (SO#3907) (Ex-Truck 1)

Engine 41 (32283) - 2006 E-One (1250/500/20F) (SO#130203) (Ex-Engine 5)

Engine 42 (27919) - 2006 E-One (1250/500/20F) (SO#130205) (Ex-Engine 10)

Engine 43 (27920)- 2006 E-One (1250/500/20F) (SO#13020x) (Ex-Engine 14)

Engine 44 (27922) - 2006 E-One (1250/500/20F) (SO#130204) (Ex-Engine 6, Ex-Engine 15)

Out of Service[]

(35423) - 2018 Ram 4500 / 2011 Braun (Ex-Medic 5) Out for repair after MVC

Station/Assignment Unknown[]

Hazardous Device Team 1 - 2002 International 4300 / LDV walk-in rescue (Ex- Schuyler Fire-Rescue (Nebraska))

F-19 (20672) (Reserve EMS) - 2015 Ford Explorer AWD (Ex-EMS 1)

2017 Ram 4500 / Braun ambulance (Ex-Medic 6)

(32271) - 2014 Chevrolet Express 4500 / 2005 Road Rescue / 2014 FD-remount ambulance

(23883) - 2015 Chevrolet Express 4500 / 2005 Road Rescue / 2015 FD-remount ambulance

Retired Apparatus[]

2011 Ram 4500 / Braun Chief XL ambulance

(27918) - 2006 E-One pumper (1250/500/20F) (SO#13020x) (Ex-Engine 8, ex-Engine 16) (Stripped for parts)

2006 Ford E-450 / Road Rescue ambulance

2005 Ford E-450 / Road Rescue ambulance

2003 Ford E-450 mini-bus (Ex-StarTran Paratransit) (Ex-Hazardous Device Unit) (Sold at auction Aug. 2024)

2002 Spartan Gladiator FF LFD / Smeal aerial (2100/360/24A/24B/105' rear-mount) (SN#207201) (Ex-Truck 5, ex-Truck 8) (Ex-Markham Fire and Emergency Services (Ontario)) (Sold at auction Jun. 2024)

2001 E-One pumper (Ex-Engine 1)

(4107) - 2001 Ford E-350 / Road Rescue ambulance (Sold at auction Jun. 2024)

(4114) - 2001 Ford E-350 / Road Rescue ambulance (Sold at auction Jul. 2020)

2001 Ford E-350 / Road Rescue ambulance (Sold at auction Apr. 2019)

2000 E-One Cyclone II pumper (1250/?) (Ex-Engine 13) (SO#122469) (Sold at auction Apr. 2020)

1999 E-One Cyclone II pumper (1250/?) (Ex-Engine 211) (SO#20094) (Sold at auction Apr. 2020)

1997 E-One Cyclone II pumper (1260 TM/1000) (SO#16701) (Ex-Hickman Rural Fire and Rescue (Nebraska)(Ex-Engine 11, ex-Engine 211, ex-Engine 44) (Sold at auction Sep. 2023)

1997 E-One Cyclone II pumper (1250/?) (Ex-Engine 225) (SO#17544) (Sold at auction Apr. 2020)

1997 E-One pumper (Ex-Engine 13)

1996 E-One rescue (Ex-Haz Mat 14) (SO#15626) (Sold at auction Jul. 2020)

1996 E-One aerial (1250/?/75' rear-mount) (SO#15935) (Ex-Truck 21) (Sold at auction Dec. 2025)

1996 E-One aerial (?/?/75' rear-mount)

1995 E-One Cyclone II pumper (1250/?) (Ex-Engine 21) (SO#15611) (Sold at auction Apr. 2020)

1994 E-One pumper (Ex-Engine 11)

(32026) - 1993 Chevrolet P6 / 2014 FD-Shop rebuild (Ex-Rehabilitation Unit, ex-Lincoln City Libraries’ Bookmobile) (Sold at auction Jun. 2023)

1993 Spartan / Central States pumper (Ex-Engine 10)

1992 Spartan / Ferrara pumper (Ex-Engine 4)

1992 Spartan / Ferrara pumper (Ex-Engine 5)

1990 Pierce Arrow aerial (?/?/105' Smeal rear-mount) (SN#E5822) (VIN#4P1CA02G9LA900549) (Ex-Truck 21)

1990 Ford 800 / Central States pumper (1250/500)

1989 Pierce Arrow aerial (?/?/105' Smeal rear-mount) (SN##E5513) (VIN#4P1CA02G3LA900112) (Ex-Truck 8)

1978 Dodge 200 / Local air unit (Ex-Air Unit)

1977 Ford C-8000 / Pierce aerial (-/-/85' rear-mount Snorkel) (SN#9766C) (Ex-Truck 1)

1976 Ford C-8000 / Pierce pumper (1000/500) (SN#8969C) (Ex-Engine 2)

1974 Ford C-8000 / Pierce pumper (1000/500) (SN#8185C) (Ex-Engine 7)

1975 Oshkosh M-1500 crash tender (?/1500/180) (SN#7934) (Ex-Unit 3)

1974 Chevrolet 30 / Morris rescue (Ex-Rescue 1)

1973 Chevrolet C65 / Hackney walk-around rescue (SN#02M80134) (Ex-Squad 6) (Ex-beverage truck)

1971 Seagrave KA-20756 aerial (0/0/100' mid-mount) (SN#R-4586) (Ex-Truck 7)

1950 American LaFrance aerial (1000/?/100' mid-mount) SN#L-4158) (Ex-Truck 1)

1923 American LaFrance pumper (Sold to South Adams County Fire Department)

Order History[]

Spartan ER Contract[]

In 2019 Lincoln FR entered into a multi-unit contract with Spartan ER. The contract terms included:

7 apparatus during first year (2019/2020) with the option for 4 additional over a 3 year term. Original Contract
- 7x 2019 Spartan ER Metro Star (1250/500/20F)
2020/2021 renewal made with no new trucks ordered. (Renewal document)
2021/2022 renewal with no new trucks ordered.
2022/2023 renewal made 4 new trucks ordered.
- 2x 2022 Spartan ER Metro Star (1250/500/20F) (Engine 10 and Engine 14)
- 1x 2023 Spartan Gladiator EMFD / Smeal aerial (-/-/105' rear-mount ladder) (Truck 1) (Ordered Oct. 27, 2021) (Order document)
- 1x 2022 Spartan Gladiator EMFD / Smeal aerial (-/-/105' rear-mount ladder) (Truck 5)

External Links[]

Lincoln Fire and Rescue Department

Station Map[]

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