Raymond Volunteer Fire & Rescue

04/19/2026

We still have free CPR certifications available, curtousy of your Raymond Volunteer Firefighters and the Raymond Women's Club. Get ahold of Jill to get signed up.

There’s still spots available.

04/16/2026

The Raymond Fire Department Auxiliary is proud to launch the community t-shirt fundraiser to help support the Raymond Volunteer Fire Department and give back to the Raymond community throughout the year.

When you purchase a shirt, you’re helping us support local volunteers, community events, outreach efforts, and projects that make Raymond a stronger place to live.

Sizes available from Youth Medium to Adult 3XL
$20 per shirt
Perfect for showing Raymond pride
If you'd like to order, click on this link: https://forms.gle/MJRyct2R8rVJyp3PA

Thank you for supporting our volunteers and the Raymond community! ❤️🚒

04/02/2026

The governor has lifted his ban on fire chiefs issuing burn permits in their respective fire districts. Although we received some much needed rain in the last 24 hours, we will not be issuing any burn permits for anything without additional moisture and a change in the weather behavior we have experienced over the past month.

Update on Burn Ban: Governor Jim Pillen has lifted the recent burn ban. Burn permits can now be issued by local fire chiefs or authorized staff.

The move comes as drought and wildfire risks across the state have eased.

Read more: https://nema.nebraska.gov/articles.php?nid=363

04/01/2026

Your Raymond Firefighters are teaming up with the Raymond Women's Club and Bret's CPR to provide a community CPR event. April 25th at the Raymond Fire Station. First 20 certifications are sponsored by Raymond Volunteer Fire & Rescue or the Raymond Women's Club. Check out the flyer to get signed up.

Spots are still open!

03/27/2026

03/13/2026

Effective immediately the Governor has issued an Executive Order that bans the issuance of Open Burn Permits for 14 days. The Executive Order prohibits any fire chief or person designated by the fire chief from granting an open burn permit for any purpose.

Any existing burn permit that has not been completed is null and void and open burning is not permitted for 14 consecutive days beginning now.

This order will be reviewed prior to its termination to determine the need to extend the ban. Further information will be provided prior to that date.

In addition to this, if you have had a burn permit in the last 3 weeks, go out and check your pile of coals to make sure they have cooled down. Put lots of water on anything still above ground temperature or cover with plenty of dirt to keep the wind from stirring up any warm coals or embers. This is why we have been very selective about when we allow residents to burn

03/13/2026

A good read! Words from our brothers to the south.

📅 Today was one for the books.

If you've ever wondered why SW Fire is so restrictive with burn permits — today answered that question. Across Nebraska, fires reignited hotspots and smoldering burn piles left behind from permits issued over the past few days and weeks. What seemed like safe burns at the time, were anything but.

Here's the hard truth: a day of rain or a couple inches of snow does not reset months of drought. Our area has seen little to no meaningful moisture since last fall, and intermittent precipitation doesn't change the long-term conditions beneath the surface. Smoldering piles wait. And on a red flag day like today, they wake up.

We understand the frustration when a burn permit is denied. Nobody wants to hear "no" when they're ready to clean up their property. But we ask that before you light that pile — or before you request a permit — think long term. Is clearing that brush pile worth the risk of losing a neighbor's barn, a field, or worse? Is it worth not checking and rechecking your piles, especially on days like today, to make sure they are out? We don't think so either. That's exactly why we make the calls we do.

Today, the SW Fire district was largely spared — but 15 of our volunteer responders left their full-time jobs and their families to help our mutual aid partners battle fires across the region. Equipment was damaged. Everyone is exhausted but we all made it home safe. Tonight, many communities across Nebraska are evacuating or preparing to evacuate as fires continue to burn.

To today's SW crew — we are so incredibly proud of and grateful for the work you put in today. We bounced from fire to fire, AND responded to a rollover accident fast enough to quickly extinguish the vehicle that caught fire. Your dedication, sacrifice, and heart for this community does not go unnoticed. Thank you!

We are also deeply grateful for:

🤝 Our mutual aid partners in Lancaster and surrounding counties
🚜 Every farmer who showed up to disc fields and cut fire lines — We don't want to think about where we'd be without you.
📡 911 dispatch for keeping us coordinated and always knowing where we were — your communication and direction made a chaotic day manageable
🚔 LSO and NSP for handling road closures and leading evacuation efforts to keep the public out of harm's way
❤️ Every volunteer and their family who gave up their day to keep our communities safe

We can always burn another day. We can't always undo the destruction when conditions aren't right.

01/31/2026

Today your volunteers did training on Ice Rescue Operations. Always being prepared for any call that comes our way!

01/23/2026

Due to the extreme temps this weekend, dry conditions and increasing winds on Monday, we will not be issuing any burn permits this weekend. The potential exposure of our personnel and equipment to the weather conditions are not worth it.

01/13/2026

We would like to congratulate Skylar Sterns for completing his 1 year probationary period. In his 1 year he has made a majority of all calls making him one of the top responders for the year. During his probation he has also achieved getting his EMT license. He has been a major asset to the department. Thank you Skylar for your hard work and dedication!

11/12/2025

Beautiful night sky in Raymond tonight!