Lincoln fire chief: Major gas leak led to more than 10 hours on scene

A major gas leak Tuesday could have caused problems for the entire town of Waverly. Lincoln Fire Chief Mike Despain said they got called to North 70th Street and Amanda Road, near Cornhusker Highway, shortly before 10 a.m. after a contractor struck a 6-inch natural gas main. He said they were unable to turn off the gas main because it is the main feed to Waverly, so workers had to come in and build a bypass around it and weld on a pipe that was still in service. Despain said Lincoln Fire and Rescue was on the scene helping in the effort for more than 10 hours Tuesday.
Lincoln Journal Star - Metered Site

Lincoln Firefighters Launch Coat Drive

The Lincoln Fire Fighters Association Local #644 and Operation Warm http://www.operationwarm.org are launching their 2019 Coat Program. For the 6th year, the Lincoln Fire Fighters Association is raising money to buy new winter coats for children in need. Since 2014, the Lincoln Fire Fighters have helped over 4,000 Lincoln elementary school children by providing new, warm winter coats. “Lincoln’s fire fighters see the need for this program on a daily basis,” said Jason Love, program coordinator for the Lincoln Fire Fighters. “We have a great partnership with the schools and they help us identify the areas where we can do the most good.” The schools are selected based on the percentage of student enrollment in the free and reduced lunch program. In order to qualify for a free lunch, a family of 4 must make less than $33,475.
KFOR-AM 1240

Obituary: Gordon G. Swanson, Wallace Rural Fire District Secretary & Treasurer

Gordon Glen Swanson, 89, of Dickens passed away October 14, 2019 at Plum Creek Health Care in Lexington. Gordon was born on September 10, 1930 in North Platte to Otto Glen and Corinne (Lloyd) Swanson. He married Darlene Stearns on July 12, 1952. The two lived in California where he was in the Marine Corp until his discharge. Returning to live on the family ranch near Dickens, Nebraska. He was a life time member of the Wallace Roping Club and Dickens/Wallace Creek Crew, an honorary member of the Wallace Roping Club since 1946, long time member of the Wallace American Legion, held several positions on the Dickens School Board, Dickens Cemetery Board, a member of the RCA, and was secretary/treasurer of the Wallace Rural Fire District.
North Platte Telegraph

Two arrested for Christmas Day 2017 fire in Omaha suspected of insurance fraud

Two people were arrested in connection with a fire on Christmas Day in 2017, suspected of committing insurance fraud. Lindsay Anderson, 39, and Joseph Caillier, 39, were arrested for arson; burning to defraud an insurer; and burglary. Court records indicate the 2017 fire was started in the basement of Anderson’s mother’s home near 14th and Browne. An investigation revealed that Anderson had lived in that basement at one point and had a renter’s policy for the basement. The arrest documents claim Anderson and Caillier, who lived with Anderson, conspired to stage a burglary and burn the home for the insurance money. Court records indicate they claimed more than $16,000 in property loss on things they said were lost in the basement.
WOWT-TV NBC 6 Omaha

Lincoln Fire and Rescue Open New Station #12

Lincoln Fire and Rescue officially opened its latest new station, Monday, Station #12 at 84th and Pioneers. Fire Chief Micheal DeSpain called it a great day saying “this is a community event and we like to connect with the community. This is a big investment to bring this station to fruition, and this was one of a number of stations we opened thanks to a quarter cent sales tax.” Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird welcomed the crowd by introducing another special guest, Brianna Longoria. “Brianna is the amazingly talented artist who created this wonderful poster from the 2019 Learn Not to Burn Poster Contest,” Gaylor Baird said. For designing the winning poster, Brianna got a ride to school last week in a fire truck. Adam Schrunk, the president of Local 6-44 of the Fire Fighters Union thanked the city and the taxpayers for providing a facility that’s big enough for a fast growing part of the city.
KFOR-AM 1240

Alliance Volunteer Fire Department fights trailer fire

The Alliance Volunteer Fire Department fought a trailer fire on Oct. 11. On Friday morning crews from the Alliance Fire Department were dispatched to a structure fire at 9:39 a.m. to the B row of Meadows Trailer Court. "While in route we were told that the kitchen was fully involved," said Alliance Fire Chief, Troy Shoemaker. "We arrived at 9:46 a.m. We had the fire under control at 10:05 a.m. The fire did completely involve the kitchen portion of the trailer, which was the north end." Shoemaker said there was 12 firefighters on scene. They also had a fire engine, aerial fire apparatus, a command vehicle, and an ambulance at the fire for a short time. "We called in the Fire Marshal Investigator [Ryan Sylvester] out of Ogallala. He helped with the cause and determination of the fire. It's going to be ruled accidental. It's centering at the oven inside the kitchen," Shoemaker added.
Panhandle Post

Papillion: Trumble Park Elementary students learn fire safety

On Tuesday, first graders at Trumble Park Elementary learned fire safety. "We get out and we stay out. Now, when we go outside, do we just hang out at the neighbors or go to the playground?," a firefighter said. The students also learned what to do in certain scenarios. "I learned that when your clothes get on fire, stop, drop and roll. When your door is hot, back away," first grader Sawyer Pilgrim said To top it off, the students got to go outside and see a fire truck. "We always get super excited when we get members of our community to come in and talk to the kids. They get really excited about it, it's fun for them to be able to hear about real life experiences and to be able to ask their questions and get those questions answered," principal Ami Nichols said.
KETV-TV ABC 7 Omaha

Spaghetti feed brings fire department, public together in Plattsmouth

Despite brisk, damp weather last Thursday, another good crowd attended the annual Plattsmouth Volunteer Fire Department spaghetti feed. “The community has been supportive of the ‘World Famous’ spaghetti feed,” said Chief Mike Wilson. Held during Fire Prevention Week, this event not only raises money for the fire department, it also brings the department and the community closer together in raising awareness on how to prevent fires, he said. The public was invited to take home informative tips on fire prevention and safety measures from harmful gases, as well as little flashlights and key chains. New technology, brought in from Offutt Air Force Base, allowed the kids to use real fire extinguishers to put out simulated fires on a screen.
Plattsmouth Journal

Lincoln Fire and Rescue safely extract a man stuck in the sewer

Just before 6 p.m. Lincoln Fire and Rescue were called to the intersection on N Street and S Antelope Valley Parkway on reports of an individual trapped in the sewer. Upon arrival, they were able to make contact with that person. After opening a number of man holes and sending firefighters into the sewer, they were able to extract him. The individual was reportedly in the sewer for 24-hours before being rescued and has no life threatening injuries.
KLKN-TV ABC 8