Difference in radio systems puts Nebraska firefighters at risk

CRETE, Neb. (KLKN) — Nebraska’s fire departments are facing a dangerous communication gap because of their radio systems.

The systems can vary between departments, making it nearly impossible for firefighters to collaborate efficiently while out on a call.

“You might have one department off doing one thing and another one off doing their thing and not working toward the same goal,” said Crete Fire & Rescue Chief Tod Allen.

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Allen said it happens more often than you might think.

Crete operates on a different frequency range than Lincoln Fire & Rescue and the Southwest Rural Fire District.

And since Crete’s jurisdiction borders Southwest’s, they often have to work on fires together.

“Our radios don’t talk to their radios,” Allen said.

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That’s exactly what happened during the wildfires near Hallam in October 2022.

And it was part of the reason Crete Firefighter Brad Elder was burned so badly.

“Once we got burned over, our ability to communicate and call for help dropped to almost zero,” Elder said.

He said he made the initial mayday call once he got back to the truck but didn’t hear a response.

“At the time, I couldn’t figure out why I couldn’t get ahold of our resources to come get to us,” he said.

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A single new radio runs more than $6,000.

Allen and a few others decided to buy them out of their own pockets.

But for the entire Crete department to upgrade, it could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars — money it doesn’t have just sitting around.

“It’s going to take a lot of money,” Allen said. “And that’s what spins everything, is the money. Somebody’s going to have to make hard decisions.”

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Elder agreed, saying many smaller departments have to prioritize what they spend their budget on, often choosing to buy more urgent things.

Three Nebraska senators have introduced bills to help fund radio purchases.

But both Elder and Allen said it will be a struggle to get everyone on the same page.

“I would like to say that it’s super obvious and we’ve got to solve these problems,” Elder said. “The reality is there’s a lot of things pulling for those dollars.”