Sidney volunteer firefighters log thousands of hours, seek community support

SIDNEY, Neb. — Members of the Sidney Volunteer Fire Department responded to more than 200 emergency calls from January through October 2025 while contributing thousands of hours of volunteer service to protect the community, according to a recent appeal from the department.

From Jan. 1 through Oct. 28, 2025, volunteers logged 5,055 hours fighting fires, responding to rescue calls and participating in training. During that time, the department handled 210 calls, including 146 within the city of Sidney and 64 in rural areas. Firefighters also spent additional time attending meetings, maintaining equipment and providing safety education throughout the city and rural fire district.

Complete 2025 numbers will be released at the annual banquet on Jan. 31. 

Department officials said community donations play a critical role in maintaining operations and improving safety. Contributions have helped fund equipment purchases and training while reducing the need for additional tax dollars.

Recent donation-supported purchases include extrication equipment, a washing machine for firefighting gear, a gas meter, battery-powered extrication tools and a breathing air compressor. Officials noted that a battery-operated combination extrication tool purchased with last year’s donations has already improved response efficiency.

Looking ahead, the department plans to use future donations to purchase a new chassis for its utility vehicle. The vehicle is used to transport extrication tools, manage traffic control at accident scenes and carry a portable breathing air supply for on-scene bottle refills.

Donations may be mailed to the Sidney Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 79, Sidney, NE 69162.