History

The Village of Palmyra is located 20 miles east of Lincoln Nebraska, population 546 and is located in western Otoe County. The Palmyra Rural Fire District covers approximately 97.50 square miles (62,400 acres) of rolling hills used for farming and rural residential acreage. Located north of Palmyra is Woodland Hills golf course and housing development. Also located in the fire district is the Village of Douglas. The Douglas V.F.D. provides fire protection to the southern portion of the fire district. The estimated rural population is 808. Highways serving the district are Nebraska Highway 2, located on the north edge of Palmyra. It is a four lane divided highway with heavy commercial traffic and also Nebraska Highway 43 and State Spur S-66A.

The Little Nemaha River is located south of Palmyra.
The Triple Creek Wildlife Management Area is located in the district.

The Palmyra Volunteer Fire Department was organized on Sept. 16, 1912. The Palmyra Rural Fire District was organized in 1955. In 1961, the fire district was expanded to include in its area, that area around Douglas.
The Palmyra Fire & Rescue is comprised of 30 volunteers operating four fire suppression vehicles and one BLS Ambulance.
Ten of the members are EMT€s.

The Palmyra VFD is a member of the Otoe County Mutual Aid, with ten Fire Departments as members and Lancaster County Mutual Aid, with 24 Fire Departments as members.

Of these 34 departments, Lincoln Fire Department is the only fully paid department.