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Lincoln council adopts fire master plan, directs early station and staffing planning
Summary
The City of Lincoln adopted a fire master plan prepared by AP Triton directing new station planning, increased staffing and steps toward ALS capability as the city prepares for Village 5A growth.
Lincoln City Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to adopt a Fire Master Plan prepared by consultant AP Triton, a document the city will use to guide fire department staffing, station siting and apparatus planning as Lincoln grows.
The plan, presented by consultant Frank Blackley and introduced by Fire Chief Anthony Mejia, recommends adding personnel and a new station for the Village 5A area, developing a capital replacement program for apparatus and facilities, improving training and quality control, and evaluating advanced life‑support capabilities.
Council members and staff emphasized the near‑term impacts of the Village 5A annexation. “Village 5A is going to be really impacting the fire department by 2028,” Frank Blackley told the council, and Chief Mejia confirmed the department will need additional personnel, apparatus and a new station to serve that growth.
City Manager Sean Scully told the council the report frames a multi‑year investment: “If you count the two stations we need to build, we’re probably talking in the $75,000,000 range to build both and equip them with apparatus and then … $10,000,000 per station to staff them.” He said the city will need to phase construction and staffing so new stations are occupied when development occurs.
The plan notes Lincoln currently operates three stations, provides basic life support (BLS) EMS and depends on mutual aid for ladder truck and higher‑level responses. AP Triton recommended hiring a fire marshal and inspector, training firefighters to Hazardous Materials operations level, developing inspection schedules for commercial occupancies, creating performance benchmarks for 9‑1‑1 call processing and turnout, and implementing a competency‑based training program.
Council members pressed on timing and implementation. Mayor Pro Tem Brown and Council Member Reedy asked that station planning and apparatus orders begin early because long manufacture lead times for engines and ladder trucks can delay deployment. Chief Mejia and the consultant urged starting procurement and hiring processes well before occupancy dates in Village 5A.
The council voted to adopt the resolution accepting the AP Triton Fire Master Plan; roll call votes recorded Council Member Reedy, Mayor Pro Tem Brown, Council Member Pearl and Mayor Andreotta as voting yes.
The council directed staff to return with implementation steps and funding options, including potential capital funding, replacement schedules and options to fund ongoing operations. Staff and the consultant said further outreach and phased budgeting would be required before construction or major hires occur.
