Volunteer EMS Provider

COLUMBUS FIRE DEPARTMENT

Columbus, NE · Platte County

COLUMBUS FIRE DEPARTMENT is a Volunteer department serving Columbus, NE (Platte County), with 2 stations and 89 total personnel. The department also provides EMS services. Full equipment, coverage, and staffing data from HIFLD are below.

89
Total personnel
2
Stations
Fire trucks
Yes
EMS service
+394%
above NE avg personnel
(18/dept)
98th
percentile by size
of 265 NE depts
45
personnel per station
staffing density
$65K
1 FEMA grant
AFG / SAFER

Department Profile

Type
MOSTLY VOLUNTEER
Location
Columbus, NE
FDID
10001

FEMA Grant History

$65K
Total Funding
1
Awards
Year Award Amount
2013 EMW2012FH00713 $65,205

Source: USAspending.gov (CFDA 97.044 AFG / 97.083 SAFER) USAspending.gov (CFDA 97.044 AFG / 97.083 SAFER)

Staffing vs the Nebraska average

How COLUMBUS FIRE DEPARTMENT's personnel count compares to the typical department in Nebraska. It is larger than 98% of the 265 reporting departments statewide.

▲ 394% above the state average
Stations
2
State fire deaths/yr
26
NE departments
511

What This Data Tells You About COLUMBUS FIRE DEPARTMENT

COLUMBUS FIRE DEPARTMENT operates as a Volunteer department in Columbus, within Platte County, and the HIFLD and USFA records give a precise structural picture of its response capacity. The department reports 89 total personnel, 2 stations, no truck inventory reported. EMS capability is listed as active, which directly affects how medical calls in the service area are routed and how quickly an advanced life support unit can reach a patient. Department type matters because career, volunteer, and combination organizations carry very different response-time profiles and funding sources.

Benchmarking against the state gives this profile context. Nebraska has 511 registered fire departments and 9,011 total personnel, averaging roughly 18 staff per department. COLUMBUS FIRE DEPARTMENT runs 394% above that state average, signalling a larger-than-typical crew likely tied to denser population or higher call volume. The state records about 13,600 fires, 26 fire deaths, and 50% volunteer coverage each year, which shapes training, funding priorities, and mutual-aid patterns felt at every department in the state.

Federal investment further defines this department's trajectory: COLUMBUS FIRE DEPARTMENT has received 1 FEMA grant totaling $65,205 through the AFG and SAFER programs, money typically spent on PPE, SCBA, training, and hiring or retaining career staff. Residents, insurers, and mutual-aid partners use these data points to judge whether coverage is adequate for the built environment, whether ISO ratings are defensible, and where future capital investment should flow. All figures on this page come from the Homeland Infrastructure Foundation-Level Data (HIFLD) public dataset, USFA published statistics, and USAspending.gov, and are presented without editing so the underlying federal record remains transparent and verifiable.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many firefighters does COLUMBUS FIRE DEPARTMENT have?

COLUMBUS FIRE DEPARTMENT has 89 total personnel according to HIFLD data. This is 394% above the Nebraska average of 18 per department.

Does COLUMBUS FIRE DEPARTMENT provide EMS services?

Yes, COLUMBUS FIRE DEPARTMENT provides Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in addition to fire response.

How many fire stations does COLUMBUS FIRE DEPARTMENT operate?

COLUMBUS FIRE DEPARTMENT operates 2 fire stations.

What type of fire department is COLUMBUS FIRE DEPARTMENT?

COLUMBUS FIRE DEPARTMENT is a Volunteer department serving Platte County, NE. Volunteer departments rely on community members who serve without full-time compensation.

Has COLUMBUS FIRE DEPARTMENT received federal grants?

Yes, COLUMBUS FIRE DEPARTMENT has received 1 FEMA grant totaling $65,205 through the AFG and SAFER programs. The most recent grant was in fiscal year 2013.

How many fire departments are in Nebraska?

Nebraska has 511 fire departments with 9,011 total personnel. 50% are volunteer departments.

Data from HIFLD Open Data (FEMA/DHS). Not all departments report equally.

Related

Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainFireData Editorial

Federal data sources

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from FEMA/DHS HIFLD Open Data. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.