Lebanon Ohio was first incorporated as a village on January 9 1810.

Several Fires occurred early in Lebanon’s History, which prompted residents to become Fire conscious.
An ordinance was was adopted that each building owner provide a fire bucket in 1815.

  
About the same time this ordinance was passed, two Fire Fighting groups were formed,
The Turtlecreek Fire Department&
The Fire Brigade.

Each Company Purchased Hooks and Ladders.

Early Firefighting Equipment.. Lebanon Bought it's first Hand Pumper in 1828.
  It was described as, being a force pump placed on a box 4 feet long, 3  feet wide, and 2 feet deep. It was mounted on 4 wooden wheels.
It was called the Minnow. 

   In 1835 another pumper was purchased.It was bought in Cincinnati for $1400.00.
This was a side bar suction pump and was large and cumbersome. This pumper was called The whale. 

  The Third Hand pumper was purchased in 1849.
It was a two stream Suction Engine with two sets of Handles or “brakes”  for pumping on each side. It was sold to Franklin, and destroyed in a  fire in August 26, 1877 in which the Franklin Town Hall Burned.

Another pumper was purchased in 1861, Called Union #1.  
It was purchased from Brenton & Blake at Waterford New York for  $920.00 It was called the Squirrel Tail, because the hose wrapped over  the top, looking like a Squirrel with its tail over its back. 

The First  Steam Fire Engine was purchased from the Lota-Selsby Manufacturing Co.  of Seneca Falls, New York, with 1000 feet of hose, and a Hose Cart with  other accessories in 1872. This pumper was named-
“The Belle of the West”
The Cost was $6,800.

 July 1, 1872 the Fire committee of council  authorized The purchase of an additional Hose Reel for $200.00 from a  Cleveland Firm. Lebanon boasted of having the most complete Fire  Department of any town its size.

 
In 1881-1882 Three Men, including  Bud Dill, Bill Moran, who were Members of the Fire company, and John  Davidson built a ladder Wagon for Lebanon.

 On November 9, 1874  Council Purchased more hose for the Steamer Company.

 On February 7, 1876 a  Circulating water heater was purchased for the Belle of the West to  keep hot water in the Steamer at all times so steam could be raised more  quickly. The cost was $150.00. 

 On December 4, 1883 two dozen Fire  Buckets were ordered at a cost of $2.00 each. On April 5, 1887 The  “Belle of the west” was taken in on trade for the sum of $3000.00  for a  larger Steamer,  Made by Ahrens, of Cincinnati Ohio. The Steamer was  delivered and the remainder was paid in the amount of $3,150.00. Hose  reels were in use until 1906 when horse drawn equipment replaced them. A  fire Wagon was purchased in 1906.

The same horses that pulled the  ladder wagon were also hitched to a garbage and ash wagon and were used  all over to collect trash. When the Fire bell sounded, they were ready  to dash to the Fire House. The names of the Horses were Frank and Tom.

 In 1925 after Discussion and debate, Two gasoline driven units were  purchased. Two were purchased, one was a Winther chassis with a hose bed  , two small reels, and Chemical tanks. The other was a Winther Chassis/  Peter Pirsch Triple Combination with Chemical tanks. As Lebanon grew,  the need for more and better equipment became evident.
After investigation of different outfits, cost, Council contracted with
Ahrens Fox Company for a new Pumper. The cost was $7125.00 and was  delivered October 30, 1937. 

In 1947 Council contracted with Vannata for a  Bean High Pressure pumper for $9000.00
This truck carried a tank and two hose reels each with fog nozzles attached and ready for instant use.

As calls increased throughout the County, The Turtlecreek Township  trustee's purchased a Seagrave in 1955. This was manned by 3 or 4 men  from Lebanon Fire Department, and was housed in the downtown Fire House.  The cost was $16,000.00.

 Most of this information was provided  long ago by Harry Hill
In conjunction with William Rainey, Chief of the Fire Division
and many others.