COLUMBUS, Neb. --The Columbus Fire Department is getting some new and pretty expensive equipment.

The Columbus City Council voted (6-0); unanimously approving a quote from Electronic Engineering for $620,623.62.

This, in efforts to upgrade their current radio equipment. Something that Assistant Fire Chief Nathan Jones says was a long time coming.

"There's been quite a few incidents I have been involved in and the Chief's been involved in that we were really trying to talk to each other either on the same level or just a level above," Jones said. "Just having that cohesion of communication from inside the building to outside to command, it's going to be huge in keeping our firefighters safe."

The quote includes 46 handheld radios with remote speakers, 30 spare batteries, seven bank chargers, 20 mobile radios, six in-vehicle repeaters, and the necessary warranty and programming provisions.

Fire Chief Ryan Gray said he appreciates his fellow city officials for helping make it possible, as well as the City Council for approving the amended plan.