Cessna 182 pilot reported a failure of the nose gear to properly lock in the down position; the aircraft landed safely on the main gear but collapsed on the nose and the pilot and passenger evacuated safely.

Narrative

I was on a VFR cross-country flight from ZZZ to ZZZ1. Upon approach to ZZZ1 at pattern altitude; I put the gear lever in the down position but the green gear locked indicator failed to illuminate. I cycled the gear several times without success. I completed the emergency checklist; including emergency gear extension and light bulb test. Although all gear appeared to be down; I could not confirm that the nose gear was locked. I advised ATC of a poss nose gear unlock and that I would return to ZZZ while troubleshooting. Upon arrival at ZZZ; I advised of the situation and attempted a low approach for Tower personnel to look at the gear. They advised that the nose gear appeared to be down. I subsequently made a normal pattern and landed on XXR using the 'partial nose gear extended' checklist. Upon landing; the aircraft rolled partway down the runway on the main gear but collapsed on the nose; striking the nose gear doors and belly (no prop or engine damage as I had shut it off on short final). I and my passenger were not injured and we exited the aircraft without incident. However; it took approximately 10 minutes for fire department personnel to reach us; although they were staged at the base of the Tower. Apparently the fire department could not coordinate directly with the Tower for access to the runways. The fire station immediately adjacent to the airport should have direct access to the Tower. Also; I should have declared an emergency so that the fire department was already there to assist if there had been injuries or an immediate danger of fire. I did not believe that I was in imminent danger by performing a 'belly' landing; but I did not recognize the risk of fire. It appears that the incident was caused by a mechanical failure in the nose gear actuator which would not have been observable upon pre-flight and could not have been corrected in flight. I believe that I properly and fully analyzed the problem and took the best available course of action (aside from declaring an emergency). Remaining calm and working through the problem helped greatly in a successful outcome.