Update on Administrative Review of Lebanon Fire and EMS Department

LEBANON, Maine — The Lebanon Board of Selectmen is today providing an update on a series of actions taken to review and improve the Lebanon Fire and EMS Department.

The operational assessment of the Lebanon Fire & EMS being conducted by York County Fire Administrator Roger S. Hooper begun on Monday. Chief Hooper has been looking into the department’s compliance with directives of the Maine Bureau of Labor Standards and the Maine Bureau of Emergency Medical Services. Environmental Safety and Hygiene has completed an air quality assessment of the fire stations, but the results of the tests are not yet available. It is anticipated that John Turner Consulting Inc. will begin its structural engineering reviews of the two fire stations on Monday, March 9. 

Chief Hooper has also been tasked to assist and advise Interim Deputy Chief Frank Maguire with the day-to-day operations of the fire department. 

“I have been very impressed with the dedication and cooperation of the department members. The department hasn’t skipped a beat,” Chief Hooper said. “Deputy Maquire has provided sound leadership during this difficult time, and the residents and business owners of Lebanon should be confident that their first responders remain ready, willing and able to serve them at a moment’s notice.”

In February, following several personnel complaints, the Lebanon Board of Selectmen placed Fire Chief Steve Merrill and Deputy Chief J.T. Harmon on paid administrative leave pending. The Town’s Human Resources Director is coordinating an investigation into those complaints. It is Town policy not to comment on open investigations.

The Lebanon Fire-Rescue Department is a combination per-diem and on-call department, with per-diem first responders working during the daytime hours and call firefighters/medics responding to calls from home during the evenings. 

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