THE MT. LEBANON FIRE DEPARTMENT IS CERTIFIED BY THE PA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND PEMA AS AN ADVANCED RESCUE SERVICE AND AN EMS QUICK RESPONSE SERVICE
The Mt. Lebanon Fire Department has been awarded two state certifications during the month of July.
Voluntary Rescue Service Recognition – Advanced Level Certification:The Mt. Lebanon Fire Department has been certified through the PA Emergency management Agency and the PA Department of Health as an Advanced Rescue Service.To obtain this certification the Department had to meet very stringent manning and training requirements along with a review of the Fire Departments standard operating procedures, maintenance records, mutual aid agreements, and an extensive equipment inventory.This is a three year certification; the Department will need to go through another inspection in three years to keep the certification.The Mt Lebanon Fire Department is one of the six emergency service departments in AlleghenyCounty to meet the requirements for the advanced certification.
Quick Response Service – The Mt Lebanon Fire Department also became a certified Quick Response Service through the PA Department of Health.This Certification establishes the Mt Lebanon Fire Department as a licensed agency under the Department of Health to respond to emergency Medical calls to give aid when an ambulance is going to be delayed.This certification consisted of an inspection or policies, manning, training records and a medical equipment check and inventory.This certification is good for three years and the department will need to be re-inspected at that time to keep the certification.All of the career firefighters are certified as Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) and three are Paramedics, eight of the volunteer firefighters are certified as EMTs.
Both of these certifications show the Mt Lebanon Fire Department’s commitment to safety and well being of the citizens of Mt Lebanon.
Mt. Lebanon Fire Department asked the community what it wanted, and the community replied.
Last year, the fire department sent a strategic planning questionnaire to every household in the community asking residents some general questions and to rate the interactions they’ve had with the fire department. More than 800 surveys were returned; 213 people said they were willing to participate in a more detailed survey. Last month, those individuals were invited to round table discussions about what services could be added or scaled back in the department.
“We have a perception of what’s important in the community,” says Chief Nick Sohyda, “but are these the services [the community] wants? This survey is an important step to help us move forward.”
The results from that meeting will be combined with results from other surveys—an October 2007 session with citizens fire academy graduates and upcoming sessions with business groups, the school district and community organizations such as the PTA and the library. An internal survey also will be conducted. Firefighter Tom Cook, who has a master’s degree in business administration, heads the survey committee.
The survey results will guide Sohyda and his staff as they write a strategic plan—the first step toward gaining national accreditation, a process which should take about three years. During that time, all aspects of the department will be examined for efficiency and safety. The department’s standards and practices also will be compared to other departments. Once completed, a team of assessors will review the department over a one-week period. More than 240 criteria must be met before the department can be accredited.
“Being accredited promotes excellence, provides a source of evaluation, identifies our strengths and weaknesses and gains us national recognition,” Sohyda says.
January 2008
MTLFD Releases 2007 Annual Report
"On behalf of the members of the Mt. Lebanon Fire Department, it is with a great sense of pride and accomplishment that I present to you the 2007 Annual Report. This report provides an overview of the Department’s accomplishments in 2007 and summarizes some of our goals for 2008.
During 2007, the Mt. Lebanon Fire Department continued to provide the highest quality of emergency and non-emergency life safety services. Through the department’s commitment to continuous improvement, the staff developed and implemented several new and innovative programs to create greater economic efficiencies and improve service effectiveness to Mt. Lebanon residents."
Last month, Mt. Lebanon career firefighter Kevin Abbott was named Mt. Lebanon’s Fire Officer of the Year and volunteer firefighter Bob Fischer received the Mt. Lebanon Firefighter of the Year award. These annual awards, given by the Mt. Lebanon Fire Department, recognize firefighters who have demonstrated outstanding fire prevention and protection service to the department and the community while upholding the department’s goals. Fire Chief Nick Sohyda selects one career and one volunteer firefighter from nominations submitted by firefighters and department staff.
Sohyda chose Abbott for his work in running Shift A, the community service and outreach division, when the department was short a platoon chief. In that position, Abbott successfully recruited volunteers for the shift.
“Kevin put the department and its people ahead of himself in so many situations,” says Sohyda. “He is always thinking of better ways to serve the community.”
The chief selected Fischer for his work in mentoring probationary officers, leading the department in volunteer hours and overseeing special events the department participates in, including First Fridays, senior fairs, block parties and other community outreach endeavors. “Bob took it upon himself to get certified as a pump operator and obtain Firefighter Level 2,” says Sohyda.
The fire department will honor the recipients at its annual banquet. Each will receive a bar for his uniform.
