Lebanon Fire District Promotes Erin Nunes To Battalion Chief (Photo) -07/23/25
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News Release
Lebanon, OR
Lebanon Fire Districts firefighters went to work on a small brush fire in the early morning hours of Sunday July 20, 2025. The fire which came in as a burning tree located on an old mill property in the 3000 block of Burdell BLVD became a 1/4-acre fire quickly due to the dry, tall brush and grass. When the Battalion Chief arrived, he immediately upgraded to a first alarm to get more brush equipment coming. The first due engine quickly went to work on arrival knocking down the head of the fire and felling a tree that would help aid in the mop up phase to completely extinguish the blaze. Firefighters were on scene a little over 90 minutes extinguishing and mopping up the hotspots and getting a cold trail around the area. No injuries were reported, and the cause is under investigation.
During the incident, Lebanon’s fire/medic units were busy responding to multiple 911 calls in the district, significantly reducing the amount of personnel needed to safely extinguish the blaze.
Lebanon Fire District responded with one engine, two single staffed brush units, one pumper-tender and two chief officers. The district was assisted by Albany Fire Department’s medic unit by responding to multiple medical calls going at the same time.
Lebanon Firefighters would like to remind everyone to be cautious with open flames, discarded cigarettes and recreational fires due to the summertime dryness. Remember, that all burning which includes backyard barrel burning is currently prohibited, while small recreational fires in fire pits are allowed. Be Safe!
At 1:28 this morning, Lebanon Fire District crews responded to a reported structure fire involving a double-wide manufactured home in the 600 block of Vaughan Lane. Upon arrival, the Battalion Chief noted light smoke showing and crews quickly performed a search of the residence, ensuring all occupants had safely evacuated.
The fire was located in the crawlspace and had extended into two bedrooms. The complexity of the fire was amplified due to its position between the joints of the two halves of the manufactured home, making suppression efforts particularly challenging. Fortunately, due to the quick notification by the occupants and rapid response of the fire district, the damage was contained to less than 10% of the house. Crews remained on scene for approximately 3 hours.
Albany Fire Department provided an ambulance for coverage of the district during the fire and Brownsville Fire Department provided an engine. No injuries were reported among the residents or firefighters. The cause of the fire appears to be electrical in nature, but it still remains under investigation. Lebanon Fire District would like to remind the public that electrical fires can often start unnoticed. Take a moment today to inspect your home’s power cords and outlets for damage or overheating.
At approximately 6:30pm Sunday night, Lebanon Fire District crews were dispatched to a report of a vehicle into power lines with a pole down. On arrival, BC31 assumed command and found a small pickup had struck both a utility pole and a fire hydrant, coming to rest with live power lines draped over the vehicle.
The lone occupant was alert and remained in the vehicle for safety while waiting for Pacific Power to secure the lines. E31 and Lebanon PD established traffic control to maintain scene safety.
Once power was cut, the patient was taken to Lebanon Community Hospital. The cause of the crash is under investigation. E31 and BC31 remained on scene to assist with extended traffic control while Pacific Power conducted repairs. Repairs could take up to 8-10 hours to complete.
Lebanon Fire District Receives Priceless Donation from Local Business
LEBANON, Ore. – In a powerful show of community partnership, ENTEK—an advanced materials company founded and headquartered in Lebanon, Oregon—has stepped up to support the Lebanon Fire District in a big way.
The Fire District will be sending a 2007 Pierce fire engine to Fire Trucks Unlimited, located in Henderson, Nevada, where it will undergo a complete refurbishment. The work will include a full rebuild of the engine, transmission, and pump, along with new paint and upholstery to restore both the interior and exterior. With the cost of new fire engines increasing by 17–21% annually since 2020, budgeting for replacements has become increasingly difficult. Refurbishing the engine will extend its service life at roughly one-third the cost of purchasing a new unit.
The collaboration began with a family conversation between Battalion Chief Blaine Suing of the Lebanon Fire District and his father, Marty Suing, ENTEK’s Director of Fabrication. When Blaine mentioned that the District needed to transport the truck to Henderson, Marty saw an opportunity to help.
“When my son told me they were planning to drive it down themselves, I remembered ENTEK has a manufacturing facility in Henderson,” Marty explained. “I brought the idea to our owner, Larry Keith, and he didn’t hesitate—he immediately saw it as a chance to give back.”
What would have been a costly and logistically challenging trip was transformed into a generous act of local support.
“This is a wonderful example of a public-private partnership and helps us be fiscally responsible to our taxpayers,” said Lebanon Fire District Fire Chief Joseph Rodondi. “Getting that vehicle to Henderson would have been a significant expense for the District. ENTEK’s support saves us thousands of dollars—resources we can now dedicate elsewhere.”
“This fire truck will serve communities for years to come thanks to this refurbishment,” added Chief Rodondi. “And that wouldn’t be possible without the support of hometown partners like ENTEK.”
At approximately 7:19 AM, the Lebanon Fire District responded to a reported structure fire in the 1600 block of 2nd Street. A total of 19 personnel responded to the scene.
Crews arrived quickly and were able to bring the fire under control in a short amount of time. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
An investigation determined the cause of the fire to be a faulty toaster.
On Thursday, July 3rd at 9:23 PM, Lebanon Fire District (LFD) responded to a water rescue in the 31000 block of 1st Street in Waterloo. A disoriented individual was reported on the river after dark. LFD and Linn County Sheriff’s Office initiated a joint search, locating the victim approximately 15 minutes later near the upper end of the park.
The individual was safely assisted to an ambulance and transported to a hospital for evaluation. Seven LFD units and 17 personnel were involved in the response, with the Albany Fire Department covering medic services for the city during the incident.
LFD reminds the public of the importance of wearing personal flotation devices and informing others of your river plans, including departure and estimated arrival times.