City of Lebanon Fire Department
Wilson, Tennessee
How we verified this
As of August 2026 Lebanon fire dispatch stays in the clear on RadioReference's "Lebanon Public Safety" P25 Phase II system — "2001 | Fire Dispatch | Fire Dispatch" is mode "T" — while Fire Tactical 1-15 (talkgroups 2002-2016) and "2100 | Fire-Emerg | Fire Emergency" are all marked "T Enc".
Encryption Details
Wilson County Context
Wilson County is a mixed picture: 1 of 3 agencies we track here are fully encrypted (33%), which means some neighboring departments are still audible on a scanner.
See every agency we track in Wilson County → County encryption overview →
What This Means
This agency encrypts some of its communications while leaving others open. Which channels are affected depends on the operation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is City of Lebanon Fire Department radio encrypted?
Yes. City of Lebanon Fire Department uses P25 AES-256 encryption. This agency encrypts some of its communications while leaving others open. Which channels are affected depends on the operation.
Can I listen to City of Lebanon Fire Department on a police scanner?
Partially. City of Lebanon Fire Department encrypts some of its talkgroups while leaving others open, so some channels may still be accessible. Check RadioReference for specific talkgroup status.
Why did City of Lebanon Fire Department encrypt their radio?
The standard justification nationwide is officer safety and operational security, regardless of whether a documented local incident ever required it. The tradeoff that follows is consistent too: public oversight drops, and reporters lose the ability to track fire department response as it happens.
Can Wilson County reverse the encryption decision?
Yes — nothing about the underlying radio technology forces this. It's a decision Wilson County officials made and can revisit, and other communities have pushed departments back toward open channels through sustained council pressure and coalition-building.
What can I do about City of Lebanon Fire Department encryption?
Three things carry weight, in this order: a public-records request for City of Lebanon Fire Department's encryption policy and radio recordings, a turn at the microphone during Wilson County budget discussions, and finding the other people locally already asking the same question. Individually these are easy to deflect; together they are not.