Lebanon Fire - EMS Showcases New Combined Department Patch and Facebook Page.

Lebanon Fire and EMS Department unveiled their new Department Patch today, August 4, 2015.

According to Chief Daniel Meehan, the patch represents the combining of departments, and their perseverance in moving forward with combined goals.

The patch, designed by Fire-EMS Department Captain Ryan Dominique has become a source of pride. "We've sat on this for a while," states Meehan, "until the time was right to take the next step forward."

Meehan, who was appointed as the Department Chief of two separate departments back at the beginning of the year, spoke to Lebanon voters and won the right to merge the two departments personnel, equipment and budgets in the June 9, 2015 Town Election. The town also voted in his favor regarding part time staffing for the newly combined departments. The Chief has also done a lot of work with other local town Chiefs in increasing their commitments to Lebanon Mutual Aid needs and the Lebanon Department's Mutual Aid commitments to them, most notably in the release of Mutual Aid charges being dropped, and past due balances for those charges being released.

Chief Meehan credits his staff with their willingness to work hard, work together and do what needs to be done with the recent turnaround of morale, response times, and inter-department communications, and is looking forward to welcoming new personnel becoming available through their participation in classes offered through a grant from Frisbie Hospital. Those new graduates will be ready for State testing when their course completes in late August, and in order to participate in the program, they have all signed 18 month service commitments with Lebanon Fire - EMS Department. Many others have been taking vehicle driving courses and upgrading and recertifying licensing, gaining more skills they bring to the table for the department.

Along with a change of the department's patch, the Chief also says the Facebook page operated by the department has changed it's look as well, now showcasing the patch and the new name, "Lebanon Fire - EMS" and a new department website is being created by Fire - EMS Department Lieutenant JT Harmon. "The Fire Department, Inc. will still be maintaining their Facebook page and website separately," said Meehan, reminding people that the Fire Department Incorporation is a separate group made up of some fire department personnel, but not all department employees are members.  

For now, helmet shields for Firefighters will remain unchanged, however the department is looking forward to adding the new patch to their uniforms soon, as well as having T-Shirts made showcasing the new artwork.

"We've really taken a lot of steps toward one combined goal for service to the Lebanon community," said Chief Meehan in an online interview earlier today.