Lebanon City appoints new fire chief

Mayor Sherry Capello announced Tuesday morning that Deputy Chief Aaron Sweitzer has been promoted to fire chief for City of Lebanon.

Sweitzer has served as the acting fire chief for the city for the last two months, following the retirement of Chief Duane Trautman.

Prior to that, Sweitzer served as the deputy fire chief in the city for two years. He has served the city for a total of four years, starting his career as a volunteer firefighter before being recommended by the previous chief to volunteer assistant fire chief.

Capello said in the release that Sweitzer has prepared himself for the roll by attending classes, responding to a wide array of incidents and dealing with members of a combined department as well as the community.

"The job of a fire chief is a tough one that continually challenges anyone sitting in that seat to exhibit skills in multiple areas-not just firefighting skills, but administrative and communication skills as well," she said. " Chief Sweitzer possesses the appropriate combination of education, on-the-job-experience and credentials that will provide him every opportunity for success."

She said the city believes the change in leadership will be a smooth transition for the department.

Sweitzer said in response to the appointment that he was honored and humbled to accept the position, according to the release.

"The role of a fire chief extends beyond managing emergencies and ensuring the efficient functioning of our fire department; it involved fostering a culture of excellence, teamwork, and continuous improvements," he said.

Daniel Larlham Jr. is a reporter for the Lebanon Daily News. Reach him at DLarlham@LDNews.com or on Twitter @djlarlham

This article originally appeared on Lebanon Daily News: Aaron Sweitzer appointed as City of Lebanon fire chief