Lebanon City Fire Department

The Lebanon Fire Department blends a career staff with nine volunteer fire companies to deliver fire and emergency response across the City of Lebanon. Many of the volunteer companies that make up the department trace their roots back more than two centuries, and the department describes itself today as one of the most modern and progressive firefighting forces in Pennsylvania.

Career firefighters handle day-to-day fire prevention inspections, apparatus and station maintenance, and are typically first on scene, while the volunteer companies supply and largely own the apparatus fleet and provide the bulk of firefighting personnel who respond to calls. Together the two groups are trained in fire suppression, hazardous materials response, vehicle and high-angle rescue, and emergency medical service, and the department also runs fire prevention education, station tours, and school fire drills.

The department is led by a Fire Commissioner and a volunteer command staff (Fire Chief, Deputy Fire Chief, Assistant Fire Chief), supported by 21 career firefighters, roughly 40 volunteer firefighters, and a Fire Police unit, running five engines, an aerial ladder, a ladder tower, a squad, a heavy rescue, and a service unit out of four stations.

Lebanon has two distinct entry paths: career firefighter positions are filled through the City's Police and Fire Civil Service Commission, which administers written and oral examinations for applicants; separately, the department continuously welcomes new volunteer firefighters through its nine volunteer companies. As of this review the City's general employment page listed no open positions.