CHIEF: Nick Sohyda

555 Washington Rd Pittsburgh, PA 15228

PH: 412-343-3402
FX: 412-343-3753
nsohyda@mtlebanon.org

www.mtlfd.org

The Mt. Lebanon Fire Department serves everyone in Mt. Lebanon by preventing as many emergencies as possible and responding to all hazards, fires and rescues.

The department is a mix of 17 paid firefighters and 45 volunteers,  operating from one fire station with three engines, a truck, a heavy rescue vehicle, a mobile command unit, four squads and two staff vehicles.

On average, the department responds to approximately 1,800 calls and participates in more than 1,000 hours of community service each year.

The fire department has six areas of specialty: administration, operations and emergency management, training, resource management, community outreach and fire prevention and life safety education. The fire prevention and life safety education division manages several significant community risk-reduction initiatives, including the fire and life safety education program in local schools, plans review, pre-planning and comprehensive code enforcement and inspection activities.

The department’s service area includes St. Clair Hospital, 11,958 single-family dwellings and duplexes, 197 apartment buildings, five nursing homes, nine assisted living facilities, 15 group homes, 15 schools, 16 churches, The Galleria of Mt. Lebanon and each of our shopping centers and commercial districts.

The Mt. Lebanon Fire Department is an Internationally Accredited Agency through the Commission on Fire Accreditation International.

Building and Fire Codes

Two sets of codes regulate all the buildings in Mt. Lebanon to keep residents and businesses safe from fires: the 2015 International Building Code and a customized version of the 2015 International Fire Code.

The International Fire Code regulates fire protection features in new constructions, renovations and additions, and it requires maintenance of built-in fire protection features.

The International Building and Fire Codes were developed from best practices, industry standards and historical events that resulted in large life or property losses. They address safety as well as environmental concerns.

Alarm Permits

In accordance with the Mt. Lebanon Code, Section 502, Permits, residents must first obtain a permit from the municipality before installing an alarm system. The purpose of this permit is to ensure that emergency responders have current contact, key holder and building information. You must fill out an application, which can be found at mtlfd.org, and pay a fee of $35 to the Mt. Lebanon Fire Department.

Services

Call 412-343-3402 or visit mtlfd.org to schedule one of the services below.

Fireplace Inspections

A trained member of the fire department staff can come to your home and make sure your fireplace or fire-burning equipment is safe. If they find problems, they can recommend you to a certified chimney sweep. The department inspects between 80 and 100 residential fireplaces each year.

Smoke Detector Program

The National Fire Protection Association recommends a smoke detector on each floor and in each sleeping area of every home. Yet more than a third of all of the homes in Mt. Lebanon do not have a single working smoke detector.

Mt Lebanon Fire Department received a grant to help  ensure all homes in the community have at least one working smoke detector. They can also install detectors or check existing ones to make sure they still work.

Citizens Fire Academy

You can learn first-hand what it’s like to be a firefighter in a 10-week program presented by the Mt. Lebanon, Castle Shannon and Dormont fire departments. Through a combination of classroom lectures, facility tours and demonstrations, you can learn about fire equipment, vehicle extrication, technical rescue, hazardous materials, engine and truck company operations, fire prevention and emergency management.

Volunteers

The fire department is always looking for volunteer firefighters. You must be a Mt. Lebanon resident, 18 or older, and able to pass a medical and fitness evaluation and a criminal background check. Once accepted, volunteers complete a 166-hour paid training program, held at the fire department on Wednesday evenings and every other Saturday. Following the program, volunteers must pass a national certification exam. For more information and an application, stop by the Public Safety Building, 555 Washington Road, or visit mtlfd.org.

Station Tours

Our firefighters take a lot of pride in their station and equipment, and they love to show it off. Since it’s staffed 24 hours a day, families and smaller groups are welcome to stop by at any time, take a look around, or talk to some firefighters. They have fire helmets, badges, coloring books and trading cards for kids. Larger groups can also request a custom tour.