Lebanon Fire Responds To A Hidden Fire In A Kitchen Wall (Photo) - 01/02/26

At 10:07 a.m. Jan. 2^nd, 2026, Lebanon Fire District responded to a structure fire in the 200 block of W. Cedar Dr.

Upon arrival, the Incident Commander found light smoke coming from the eaves of the roof of a single-family residence. Two adults and two small children had already evacuated prior to firefighters’ arrival; however, an elderly female was still inside the home. Interior conditions were relatively free of smoke, allowing firefighters to quickly enter and safely escort her outside

While some firefighters located the fire inside a wall and worked on extinguishing it, others performed a thorough search for occupants of the building and pulled additional hoselines for protection.  Further information revealed the fire had spread for some time, unnoticed into the attic space, where it burned through portions of the truss members. The occupants reported recent electrical issues, including half of the home losing power sometime the previous evening, which may be related. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Occupants were alerted by a burning smell and bubbling paint on the kitchen wall and promptly called 911. Their quick action helped keep the fire from growing larger, and all occupants were able to escape safely. No injuries were reported.

Firefighters remained on scene for approximately two hours to ensure the fire was fully contained and completely extinguished.

While Lebanon Fire District crews were committed to this incident, Albany Fire Department provided district coverage with an engine and medic unit.

Lebanon Fire District reminds the public to check smoke alarms at least every six months and ensure they are working properly. Early detection and quick reporting can save lives and limit damage.

Lebanon Fire District Announces Retirement Of Two Longtime Members (Photo) - 12/30/25

The Lebanon Fire District is honored to recognize and celebrate the retirement of two dedicated members whose combined careers total more than seven decades of committed service to the community: Division Chief – Fire Marshal Ken Foster and Lieutenant/Acting Battalion Chief Michael Maynard.

“Their careers represent sacrifice, grit, compassion, and unwavering commitment,” said Fire Chief John Tacy. “Ken and Mike shaped lives, mentored future generations, and set a standard of excellence that will live long beyond their final shifts. On behalf of the Lebanon Fire District, we thank them—deeply—for giving so much of themselves to this community and to this profession.”

Their departures mark the close of two extraordinary chapters in Lebanon’s fire service—each shaped by mentorship, sacrifice, family, and a lifelong calling to serve.

Division Chief – Fire Marshal Ken Foster

For 36 years, Ken Foster has been a steadfast presence in the Lebanon Fire District—a career born from a family deeply woven into the fabric of public safety.

“It was a family affair,” Foster reflected. “My uncle was the Fire Chief at the time, my dad had been a volunteer, my brother-in-law and future brother-in-law were all members. My mother had been a part of the women’s auxiliary for years.”

Ken joined the fire service as a volunteer after completing academy in December 1989 in Lacomb. After several years of volunteering and a brief internal crossroads between the stability of a metal fabrication job and the uncertainty of a new career, a mentor stepped in—Battalion Chief Ron Danielson.

“He came into the shop I was working at and convinced me to apply. He explained what retirement and benefits meant. It took a couple days to process, but it was the best decision I ever made,” Foster said.

Over the course of his career, he served as Volunteer Firefighter, Engineer, Lieutenant, Full-Time Firefighter, Deputy Fire Marshal, Lieutenant, and finally Division Chief of Fire and Life Safety/Fire Marshal.

Among his greatest achievements is the work he led within Fire and Life Safety since 2017—modernizing and strengthening community protections and safety practices. But beyond systems and programs, his greatest pride is deeply personal.

“I am most proud of my wife and kids—they are amazing. I am proud to have served this community in various capacities over the past 36 years. I have tried to make the lives of the people we serve better in one way or another, and that is very rewarding.”

Ken expressed gratitude for the mentors who shaped him: “My uncle Larry Arnold, my mother Carolyn, my dad Dennis, Training Chief Ted Fitzwater, and previous Chief Joe Rodondi. I never imagined retiring out as a Chief Officer.”

Retirement for Ken will be a new chapter—one filled with slowing down, spending time with family, and returning to projects long waiting for attention.

“I bought my ’55 Chevy from my dad when I was 15 and always wanted to build it the way I imagined. We started a few years ago and have a long way to go. I’m looking forward to being able to drop what I’m doing and go spend time with my wife Renee and do whatever we want, whenever we want. I have a list—and she has hers—I won’t be running out of things to do anytime soon.”

Lieutenant & Acting Battalion Chief Michael Maynard

For 33 years, Mike Maynard has served Lebanon—not originally as a goal, but as a path that unfolded in front of him.

He was first introduced to fire service at age 7, standing inside a small volunteer station in Crawfordsville while his father and neighbors raced out on calls. “I would sweep the bay floor and wait for them to return,” he shared. “As a young child hearing that plectron go off in the middle of the night and watching him run down the hallway left a pretty big impression on me.”

When he turned 18, he joined Sweet Home Fire as a member. After encouragement from Brent Gaskey, he applied for Lebanon Fire District in 1992 as a resident volunteer. “I remember walking in and talking with Deputy Chief Wilkerson one day and that night I moved into the station. It was intimidating—I hardly knew anyone.”

His journey continued—Resident Volunteer, Intern/Part-Time Firefighter/EMT, Full-Time Firefighter (1996), Lieutenant (2016), and Acting Battalion Chief when needed.

Mike’s reflections include proud moments—many of them grounded in teamwork.

“One that sticks out most was in May of 2024. My crew and I were involved in a rescue at a small residential care facility and were able to successfully pull a resident trapped in a bedroom. The teamwork and tenacity they showed that night was truly amazing. I could not have been more proud.”

His career, like many in the fire service, also carried heavy challenges—especially mental health.

“The 2018 Camp Fire in California broke me and forced me to do something about my mental health. It changed me and I am grateful for that. I encourage anyone struggling to reach out for help. There is absolutely no shame in asking.”

Mike emphasized the influence of mentors, including his father and Uncle Bob—whose volunteerism shaped his earliest understanding of service—and former Chief Joe Rodondi.

“His belief in my abilities and my knowledge were so good for my personal and professional growth. I truly appreciate everything he has done for me.”

Above all, Mike’s biggest point of pride is being part of LFD itself.

“I work alongside some of the most amazing people. It's no secret we run short for the call volume we have. When I started in 1996, we ran around 2,500 calls a year and now we’re around 7,000—with essentially the same number of people. Putting on the uniform and representing the fire district is something I will always be proud of.”

As he steps into retirement, he looks toward a new kind of life—one defined by family and freedom.

“I’m looking forward to living life uninterrupted. Sleeping in my own bed every night. Hunting, fishing, being a full-time cheer and dance dad, helping my wife, and spending more time with my daughter Nora. I don’t know exactly what retirement looks like, but I know I’m ready.”

He closed his reflections with gratitude: “I have spent 33 years in a town I was not from and made it mine. Getting the honor to serve the people of this district has been truly special. I will miss the job, but I will miss my people the most. Take care of each other. I will always be a phone call away and will always be in your corner.”

Lebanon Firefighters Contain Kitchen Fire (Photo) - 12/29/25

Lebanon, Oregon

Lebanon Fire District Firefighters responded to a reported structure fire in the 31900 block of Weldon Road during the mid-afternoon of Monday, December 29^th. En route dispatch gave information of the homeowner arriving and hearing smoke detectors alarming and saw melting of the window blinds.

The first arriving was the on-duty Battalion Chief who became the incident commander and witnessed light wispy smoke coming from the eves of the home. The IC initiated his 360 walk around checking at the front door for occupants and fire conditions. At the front door, he encountered gray, non-turbulent smoke and quickly shut the door to keep the fire from growing anymore. Due to the location and length of the driveway, the first due engine had to lay over 400 feet of supply line which was supplied by multiple water tenders due to the fire being in the rural area. Those firefighters quickly got into action, making entry through the front door and locating the fire in the kitchen area of the residence. While crews extinguished the blaze, more firefighters entered the building completing searches and confirming the fire was contained to the kitchen with no extension into the attic space or walls. No injuries to occupants or firefighters were reported.

Lebanon Firefighters responded with 2 engines, 3 water tenders, 1 ALS ambulance, 1 heavy rescue and 1 rehab unit for firefighters. During the blaze, the district responded to multiple 911 calls for service depleting all its resources. 

The Lebanon Fire District would like to remind residents of the importance of working smoke alarms. For assistance with smoke alarms in your home, contact our Fire & Life Safety Division at (541) 451-1901.

New Recruits Finish Academy Just In Time. (Photo) - 12/07/25

Just hours after completing its Volunteer Fall Fire Academy, the Lebanon Fire District (LFD) put its newest recruits to the test during a real emergency.

The academy concluded yesterday with six new volunteers successfully finishing their final live-fire training exercise — a crucial benchmark that certifies them to respond to structure fires and other emergencies within the district.

Shortly after crews finished restoring equipment from the training, LFD was dispatched to a structure fire in the 31000 block of Waterloo Road. Thanks to the large number of volunteers still at the station, the district was able to assemble and deploy personnel quickly.

Accessing the fire, however, proved challenging. The residence sat at the top of a long, narrow, and steep driveway, limiting apparatus access. LFD managed to get one engine and one tender to the top, while additional firefighters, tools, and equipment had to be shuttled up the driveway using staff vehicles.

Despite the difficult terrain, firefighters contained and extinguished the fire quickly. Crews remained on scene for approximately three hours to fully extinguish hot spots and ensure the structure was safe.

The fire was determined to have been caused by an improperly discarded cigarette butt.