Lebanon city officials and Fire Chief Chuck Batts on the Love and Lebanon podcast described the city’s groundbreaking for Station 213 and the simultaneous addition of a new ladder truck intended to shorten emergency response times on the city’s west side. "We're very excited about the new fire station. We've been working on this project for about 7 years now, and finally, we're breaking ground," Chief Batts said.

The project is driven by the department’s deployment analysis, which aims for a four‑minute response time to all addresses inside the city. "We use a deployment analysis. We try to have a 4 minute response time to all addresses within the city of Lebanon," Batts said, noting the western side of Lebanon showed a gap in coverage and that bridges and local roadway constraints complicate vehicle movement there. The new station will also provide southbound access to roughly 11 miles of I‑65 that the department covers, Chief Batts said, helping crews respond to crashes and medical calls along the interstate.

The station is expected to house Ladder 213, the department’s reserve ladder (renumbered Ladder 210), Squad 213 and Boone County EMS Medic 213. Chief Batts said the department recycles apparatus every 10 years and will keep the outgoing ladder as a reserve. "It will move along with the new ladder to Station 213," he said.

Officials described a ceremonial "push-in" event planned for an incoming ladder truck. That ceremony, officers said, will also mark the truck’s readiness after months of equipment installation and training; firefighters certified to drive the apparatus completed 26 hours of driver training. "This has taken several months to get this truck ready to go, getting the equipment in place, and then all of our firefighters who drive the trucks had to complete 26 hours of training to be certified to drive this apparatus," Batts said.

Chief Batts also discussed the department’s Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating and the potential homeowner insurance benefits of improvements. "We are currently an ISO protection class 3," he said. He described an ongoing reevaluation; a move to protection class 2 would lower some insurance costs for residents, he said. Batts outlined the three ISO components evaluated: fire protection services, 9‑1‑1 communications and the water utility.

The department described a multi‑year staffing and capability plan. Leaders said they hope to add another engine company in about three years, which would require a hiring class of roughly 12 firefighters. "Our hope is in 3 years that we will be adding in an additional engine company to the city of Lebanon," Batts said. He also announced a capability milestone for technical rescue: "01/01/2026, we will be fully operational for trench rescue." Previously the department would call a Hamilton County team for technician‑level trench rescues.

Neighborhoods named by Batts as likely to benefit include Prairie Heights and Hoosier Estates; the chief also cited improved access to the popular Big 4 Trail as a public‑safety advantage. Batts noted the department already works reciprocal automatic aid with neighboring townships and departments, and that Center Township operates stations to serve unincorporated areas outside Lebanon’s municipal boundaries.

Operational changes include renumbering stations to a three‑digit system to align countywide apparatus identification; Chief Batts said Station 11 will become 211 and Station 12 become 212 in January. The department also emphasized equipment characteristics: the current ladder is a "stick" without a platform, while the new ladder has a platform that "could hold up to 3 firefighters," which the chief said improves firefighter safety and scene access.

On staffing, Batts said two firefighters are currently in the Northside Fire Academy and will graduate in December; one more firefighter is scheduled to begin the Pike Township Fire Academy in January, with the department aiming to be fully staffed by early summer next year. The chief framed the changes as incremental: improved deployment, new apparatus, added training and specialized rescue capabilities are intended to raise service levels without overstating the timeline or funding specifics.

No formal legislative or budget votes were discussed during the interview. Funding sources, construction schedule, contract awards and exact insurance impacts were not specified on the podcast.

"They choose to work at the city of Lebanon fire department. They don't have to be here. They choose to be here and help protect our community," Batts said of his staff.

Looking ahead, the department’s next steps described on the podcast were continued training and certification, completion of the Station 213 construction, equipment commissioning and recruitment to reach the staffing level required to add an engine company in the future.