York County fire administrator to conduct readiness review of town's Fire-EMS Dept

LEBANON, Maine - Lebanon Board of Selectmen announced today they received a pledge of services from York County officials to assist the community in resolving concerns raised within the Lebanon Fire-EMS Department.

Chief Roger S. Hooper, the former Goodwins Mills Fire-Rescue Chief who now serves as York County Fire Administrator, has been retained to assist the current ranking officer of the Lebanon Fire-EMS Department, Capt. Frank Maguire, with the day-to-day management of the Department.

Maguire has been named the Interim Deputy Chief. Additionally, Hooper will be conducting an administrative review and readiness assessment of Fire-EMS Department operations in Lebanon, with the goal of providing a comprehensive report to town officials about how the community can best move forward.

"Our primary goal is ensuring that emergency services in Lebanon remain running at full capacity and that the Town has a path forward for future success," Hooper said. "It is my sincere hope that the Lebanon Fire-EMS Department will emerge stronger than ever through this process."

The Lebanon Board of Selectmen earlier this month placed Fire Chief Steve Merrill and Deputy Chief J.T. Harmon on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the assessment by the York County officials as well as investigations by the town's human resources department, the outside engineering firm - John Turner Consulting, Inc. and air quality firm - Environmental Safety & Hygiene.

The investigations stem from complaints received by the selectmen from members of the department, including serious allegations about the condition of facilities and equipment in the Fire-EMS Department.

The administrative review process is set to begin March 1 and is expected to be completed in 6-8 weeks.

The Lebanon Fire-EMS Department is a combination of per-diem and on-call department. The per-diem first responders work during the daytime hours and on-call firefighters/medics respond to calls from home during the evenings. The department remains operational, but with its top-two officers (who also respond to calls) on leave, Lebanon has briefed its mutual aid partners, including the Rochester, N.H., Fire Department.

"The Lebanon Selectmen wishes to assure the residents of Lebanon that the Fire-EMS Department will continue to provide service uninterrupted," said Charles Russell, Jr., Chairman of the Board of Selectmen. "The Town of Lebanon is committed to providing reliable quality emergency services."