Lincoln (NE) FD Opens $11.5M Station 8 to Enhance Response Times, Public Safety

Station 8 is officially ready to be operational after beginning construction in October 2022. It will house a fire engine, fire truck and medic unit, as well as 10 LFR personnel. It will start taking calls Monday. (Source: City of Lincoln)
Station 8 is officially ready to be operational after beginning construction in October 2022. It will house a fire engine, fire truck and medic unit, as well as 10 LFR personnel. It will start taking calls Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. (Source: City of Lincoln)

Lincoln, Nebraska Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird and Lincoln Fire and Rescue (LFR) Chief Dave Engler recently celebrated the grand opening of the newly completed Lincoln Fire and Rescue Station 8, a modern facility designed to enhance emergency response and provide a safer, healthier working environment for first responders, the city said in a press release. The station begins service Monday, Feb. 3, and replaces a facility built on the same site in 1958.

“This new station represents our commitment to ensuring that our team at LFR has the facilities, tools, and resources they need to perform their lifesaving work for Lincoln families,” Mayor Gaylor Baird said. “Designed to support the evolving needs of our first responders and residents, this new station improves LFR response times, supports the health and well-being of our LFR team members, and advances our goal to make Lincoln the safest and healthiest capital city in America.”  

Joining Mayor Gaylor Baird and Chief Engler at the hose uncoupling ceremony were City Council member Justin Carlson; Adam Schrunk, LFR Captain and President of the International Association of Firefighters Local 644; Ray Holliday, BRW Architecture Principal; and Mary Monahan, Country Club Neighborhood Association Board President.

The new station houses 10 firefighters and four apparatus bays, which will hold one engine, one truck and one medical vehicle. Features of the new 16,000-square-foot station include:

  • A facility layout that ensures firefighters quickly and safely get to the apparatus, leading to quicker response times to emergencies
  • Larger, drive-through bays that eliminate the need to back in vehicles and an additional bay to house specialized equipment
  • Individual sleeping quarters to support a modern workforce and the wellbeing of LFR personnel
  • LED lighting throughout the station with motion detectors and dimmers that conserve energy
  • Separate ventilation systems for living areas and equipment storage areas to prevent carcinogens from spreading throughout the station, decontamination showers for crews, and equipment decontamination areas
  • A backup power generator to ensure emergency services are not affected during power outages
  • Infrastructure for future electric-powered fire apparatus

Chief Engler noted that the enhancements and efficiencies of the new facility are important because Station 8 has historically been one of the busiest in the city, with more than 9,000 responses annually.

“A fire station is more than just bricks and mortar. Fire stations are part of our neighborhoods and are a testament to the city’s commitment to safety and service,” Engler said. “Station 8 will keep our firefighters safe and healthy, and our community safe and healthy, far into the future.”

Construction of the $11.5 million facility was funded through certificates of participation, which is 20-year financing for the cost of construction.

Captain Schrunk said the welcoming environment provided by the new station is beneficial to the mental health of first responders who live and work there 24 hours a day.

“This new station will provide an environment that’s not only much safer and more comfortable for our members who spend 24 hours at a time away from their families, but also one that’s significantly more functional and conducive to improving our capability to train and to respond to emergencies in the community,” Shrunk said.

Monahan called Lincoln firefighters dependable “helpers” who keep the neighborhood safe.

“We need them, and this neighborhood wouldn’t be the home it is without Fire Station 8,” Monahan said.

Carlson thanked all of the partners who collaborated on the new facility for their work to accomplish a “monumental project.”

“Station 8 is an impressive demonstration of Lincoln’s commitment to public safety, and to the well-being of the first responders who keep us safe,” Carlson said.

Lincoln Fire and Rescue is a combined fire and emergency services department. LFR responds to all 911 calls in Lincoln and in nearby communities that contract with LFR. Lincoln Fire and Rescue has received the Mission Lifeline Award from the American Heart Association for 10 consecutive years.  

More information about LFR is available at fire.lincoln.ne.gov


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