Rural fire radio funding remains among top priorities for Lancaster County

LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) — For years, rural fire departments have testified in front of the Nebraska Unicameral about the need for more communications equipment and a fix to the dead zones.

During their September meeting, the Hickman Rural Fire Board talked about their need for better radio communications — between each other and the county — something that’s been in the works at the state-level for years.

“We live in a hole here in Hickman, Nebraska, and our communications through the county is little to none,” said Fire Chief John Brady.

In 2023, Nebraska’s Unicameral appropriated $5 million in funds through LB 814, which provided funds to less than half of rural departments in the state, according to reporting by the Nebraska Examiner. LB 511, portions of which became incorporated into LB 814, would have appropriated $26 million for radios and training, about $52,525.25 per department for almost 500 departments statewide.

Despite that money being appropriated, Chief Brady said in September they’re still trying to fix what he calls “major” communications issues between their department and the county — an issue faced by departments statewide.

“This has been a long, ongoing situation with Lincoln and Lancaster County in regards to communication — not just in Hickman,” Chief Brady said. ”But we are the focus point, because we are the one struggling the most when it comes to communication.”

Lancaster County Commissioner Chelsea Johnson told 10/11 they recognize this is an issue, part of why they’ve appropriated $500,000 in American Rescue Plan Act dollars to help fill the gap.

It’s also number four on their legislative priorities list for the 2026 legislative session.

“The further you get from Lincoln,” Johnson said, “the more challenging that coverage is and the more challenging the communication is.”

Johnson added its up to each department what they do with funding, whether that’s purchasing individual radios or pagers, or some other type of communications equipment. Every rural department is its own entity with its own taxing authority. No matter what they decide to fund, it will likely cost in the millions of dollars for Lancaster County alone.

Chief Brady adding its a serious concern for their ability to serve the community.

“I will not send anybody into a fire if I can’t communicate with my guys from the outside,” Brady said. “If it’s dangerous, we just won’t do it.”

Adams Senator Myron Dorn, a 40-plus-year rural fire volunteer who previously introduced legislation that would’ve raised monies for rural fire radios, told 10/11 potential funding sources are part of what a statewide EMS committee is still looking into.

“There’s a lot of squads, a lot of issues that could be solved with funding for communications, funding for radios, funding for all of those things,” Dorn said. “I think that the funding part would solve a lot of issues. It doesn’t solve them all, but that would definitely help a lot.”

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