Wahoo Fire and Rescue
The Need for a Modern Facility
The needs and services of Wahoo Fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) have evolved since the completion of our fire hall in the 1990s. Despite the change in services, there have been few upgrades to the facility.
Existing Conditions
EMS has outgrown the space dedicated to them in the fire hall.
- Due to space limitations, the fire hall can only house one paid EMS member. As the City grows, additional staff will be needed.
- EMS staff sleep in recliners or on cots placed in an office that also contains a designated working desk.
- Call volume is rising 10% annually, but space limits EMS capacity. Fire and EMS serve nearly one-third of Saunders County, making expansion vital for future growth.
The vehicle bays are at capacity, creating challenges in accessing emergency vehicles safely and efficiently.
- Smaller utility vehicles are parked between larger vehicles, limiting maneuverability.
- Staff must move blocked vehicles around during emergency calls, delaying critical response when providing public safety services.
Fire and EMS regularly work around space and capacity challenges.
- The facility cannot accommodate all 42 paid and volunteer EMS and fire personnel for meetings or training.
- Inventory of supplies is limited due to the facility’s lack of adequate storage accommodations, such as designated climate-control areas.
- Several areas are only accessible by stairs, making them unusable in emergencies and noncompliant with ADA requirements.
The facility poses health and safety risks to those serving the greater Wahoo community.
- Outdated camera monitoring limits the ability to monitor equipment along with critical and sensitive supplies.
- PPE gear is stored in areas where vehicle exhaust is expelled. No ventilation or filtration system exists to protect equipment or reduce health risks.
- There is no private decontamination space for personnel. Staff must walk through medical supply storage and other clean areas while in contaminated gear.
Essential Features of a New Facility
- Enhanced emergency response capacity – Additional space for fire/EMS staff, including dedicated 24/7 EMS living quarters.
- Quicker dispatch time – New space can be designed to accommodate all emergency vehicles without having to stack them.
- Improved safety for staff and community – Fire sprinklers, alarm systems, carbon monoxide (CO) detectors, and suppression systems built into the facility.
- Reliable medical readiness – Climate-controlled storage to protect medical and emergency equipment.
What Will the Future Look Like?
The City of Wahoo’s Facilities Committee envisions a Public Safety Center where EMS has its own dedicated space, and fire facilities are expanded and modernized to strengthen training, response, and coordination with the Police Department.
Questions?
Contact us at buildingourfuture@wahoo.ne.us
Read the full fact sheet here: Fire and Rescue Fact Sheet.pdf