After being out of service for more than a decade, Omaha’s Fire Engine 2 is coming back. The fire union says it’ll help with growing call volumes. The return is not just welcome news to them but also to the family of a firefighter who once drove it.The Omaha Professional Firefighters Association says Engine 2 was retired from the downtown station because of budget cuts over a decade ago. One family says it was their dad’s wish to see it come back. If you ask Charlie Whitney’s loved ones and colleagues, he was a guy who just couldn’t be replaced. Whitney retired in 1999. He died this summer of natural causes. “I’ve had other drivers, but there’s nobody compared to Charlie,” said Whitney’s former captain, Cliff Shepoka.”My whole goal was to be like Charlie Whitney because I looked up to that man,” said retired firefighter Bob Zeleny. “He took a lot of pride in his job. Engine 2 was his pride and joy.” “He was on Engine 2 when he came on it, ended up driving it, and ended up leaving the job driving it,” Shepoka said.The engine was retired in 2011. So at his funeral, Whitney’s daughter Tammi Circo could not believe what she saw. “When I first pulled up and seen it, my husband’s like ‘Is that engine 2?'” she recalled. “I’m like ‘No, it’s not Engine 2,’ and then I walk up and I’m like ‘Oh my gosh… it is Engine 2.'”The fire union says Engine 2 will soon make a return thanks to a federal grant.”He was a really good dad and a good friend,” Circo said about her father.”Being at my dad’s funeral and having all these firemen come through that I didn’t even know, say awesome things about my dad, was amazing,” said Whitney’s other daughter, Tiffany Nemecek.Whitney’s granddaughter Gabi Circo felt that love too.”It’s been a lot easier having all the firefighters just take us in,” she said.For Whitney’s family, Engine 2 marks not only a comeback but a forever tribute.
After being out of service for more than a decade, Omaha’s Fire Engine 2 is coming back.
The fire union says it’ll help with growing call volumes. The return is not just welcome news to them but also to the family of a firefighter who once drove it.
The Omaha Professional Firefighters Association says Engine 2 was retired from the downtown station because of budget cuts over a decade ago. One family says it was their dad’s wish to see it come back.
If you ask Charlie Whitney’s loved ones and colleagues, he was a guy who just couldn’t be replaced.
Whitney retired in 1999. He died this summer of natural causes.
“I’ve had other drivers, but there’s nobody compared to Charlie,” said Whitney’s former captain, Cliff Shepoka.
“My whole goal was to be like Charlie Whitney because I looked up to that man,” said retired firefighter Bob Zeleny. “He took a lot of pride in his job. Engine 2 was his pride and joy.”
“He was on Engine 2 when he came on it, ended up driving it, and ended up leaving the job driving it,” Shepoka said.
The engine was retired in 2011. So at his funeral, Whitney’s daughter Tammi Circo could not believe what she saw.
“When I first pulled up and seen it, my husband’s like ‘Is that engine 2?'” she recalled. “I’m like ‘No, it’s not Engine 2,’ and then I walk up and I’m like ‘Oh my gosh… it is Engine 2.'”
The fire union says Engine 2 will soon make a return thanks to a federal grant.
“He was a really good dad and a good friend,” Circo said about her father.
“Being at my dad’s funeral and having all these firemen come through that I didn’t even know, say awesome things about my dad, was amazing,” said Whitney’s other daughter, Tiffany Nemecek.
Whitney’s granddaughter Gabi Circo felt that love too.
“It’s been a lot easier having all the firefighters just take us in,” she said.
For Whitney’s family, Engine 2 marks not only a comeback but a forever tribute.
