Lebanon Fire hires and promotes firefighters
Feb. 6—The new year brought personnel changes and promotions to the Lebanon Fire Department.
Robert Wirey, a deputy chief since 2012, announced last year that he'll retire in January 2024. Wirey also asked that for his final year on the department he be allowed to return to the job he had before moving into administration.
"Wirey is back as battalion chief of B-Shift," LFD Chief Chuck Batts said, adding, "He loves it."
Mike Baird is the department's second deputy chief and also plans to retire in January 2024.
Jason Hendricks was sworn in this year as Wirey's replacement as deputy chief of operations. He will slide into Baird's spot as deputy chief of administration next January, Batts said.
Jacob Fussell was promoted to the rank of lieutenant after nine years with the department, to take Hendricks' former position.
Batts received the Lebanon City Council's approval last year to put another truck in service and hire six firefighters to man it. Five new hires came from the Center Township Fire Department's six full-time firefighters, who had requested last year that the two departments merge.
The departments did not merge, but firefighters James Fusse, Brandon Jamison, Martin Padgett, Andre Rodriquez and Zach Wallace still moved to LFD.
The department needs three more firefighters to be fully staffed, and Batts said they have three candidates in the process.
