Our motto: "Always Ready", Since 1883 that says it all, doesn't it?

The Kearney Volunteer Fire Department serves the City of Kearney as well as the Suburban Fire Protection District #1 of Buffalo and Kearney Counties. In comparison to other first class cities of similar size, we are proud to say we maintain a low budget and have a ISO Class 2 rating.

The dedication of out 75 volunteer firefighters enables us to respond to emergency situations with a greater number of well-trained men and women at any time of day or night. As the second largest volunteer fire department in the state of Nebraska, we provide fire protection to an area of 272 square miles which is occupied by over 40,000 people.

Eight Firefighter/Operators, Fire Administrator, Administrative Assistant and part-time Secretary make up our small full time staff.

The Kearney Fire Department maintains three fires stations, a well equipped Training Facility and a Airport Station for ARFF response. Fire Station 1at 2211 Avenue A, is the primary station used for administration, fire/rescue response, meetings and other activities. Fire Station 2 at 3820 30th Avenue is our primary response station for calls in the west areas of the community and is located. Both Station 1 & 2 are manned 24/7. Fire Station 3 is located in Riverdale, northwest of Kearney, and is used for response to suburban fires in Kearney Fire's northern rural areas. The training complex is located in the industrial tract area off of Airport Road. We currently have a class room training center, a training tower with burn room, confined space rescue maze, a trailer house for search and rescue, a car fire simulator, roof ventilation area, general training building, a draft pit, paved streets, rescue training area and parking lot. Our training complex is continuously under improvement providing our members the best possible training, close to home and on a regular basis. The Airport Station houses the ARFF truck for airport response.

In addition to firefighting, rescue and dive operations, members of the fire department are also active in community fire prevention and education activities throughout the year. Members also attend monthly training and other specialized training throughout the year. As part of the Fire Department, we also have social gatherings to off set all the hard work. After all "All Work and No Play" would make the job even tougher than it already is, so we use the socials to cement our bond of brotherhood.

Other perspective...

Since 1883 Kearney has been served by its volunteer fire department and is the second largest volunteer fire department in the state of Nebraska. The Kearney Volunteer Fire Department is proudly served by 80 volunteer firefighters, which enables Kearney to respond to emergency situations with a great number of well-trained men and women at any time of day or night. Fifteen of these members are basically responsible for the Riverdale area, which is a branch in the northwest section of a 272 square mile jurisdiction. The area outside the city limits is named the Suburban Fire Protection District #1 of Buffalo and Kearney Counties.

The main fire station located in downtown Kearney was remodeled and became operational in 1972 and is designed to serve the administrative, maintenance and training needs of the department. It contains a communications center, fitness and storage facilities, hose tower, offices, meeting rooms and an eleven bay truck room. Station 2 has a communications room and three trucks bays and is located in the northwest region of the city. It became operational in June 1998.

In comparison to other first class cities of similar size, we are proud to say we maintain the lowest budget. The full-time staff includes eight Firefighter/ Operators, a Fire Administrator and a Fire Administrative Assistant which are employed by the

City of Kearney. Two city stations are manned full-time by two drivers at all times working 12-hour shifts from 7 AM Sunday through 7 AM Saturday. Part-time drivers man the stations on 24-hour shifts covering Saturdays. These part-time employees, who are also volunteer members, must be qualified as driver/operators.