By Ella Howell
The Lebanon Reporter
LEBANON, Ind. — The Lebanon Fire Department received a donation of $22,500 last week to launch a new trench rescue program, and Fire Chief Chuck Batts said the money will really help expand the department’s capabilities.
The money came from public safety partners at Eli Lilly and Company, FLUOR, F.A. Wilhelm Construction, Freitag and IEI and will cover tuition costs and equipment for LFD’s newly certified Trench Rescue technicians.
| WEBINAR: The command blueprint: Build the system, lead the fireground
Those companies are working on large construction sites in Boone County’s LEAP Lebanon Research and Innovation District. Nationwide, 373 people died in trenching accidents in the United States from 2017-2023, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 80% of those deaths occured in the construction industry, the agency reported.
LFD hosted a trench rescue certification class at the end of October when first responders from the Lebanon and the Whitestown Fire departments spent the week in hands-on training.
Advanced Rescue Solutions led the five-day class to teach skills needed to perform trench rescue safely and effectively.
Representatives from each donor agency met Thursday at LFD Station 211 for a check presentation as Lilly’s Lebanon Fire Chief Jeff Butz handed the large check over to Batts.
Batts said they look forward to strengthening community partnerships to improve and expand the services first responders are able to provide.
It was highlighted that this contribution will help enhance the department’s ability to respond to specialized emergencies throughout Boone County.
© 2025 The Lebanon Reporter (Lebanon, Ind.).
Visit www.reporter.net.
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
