Staff Reports
The Columbus Fire Department has promoted three of its members to officer positions following two retirements and one reassignment request.
Jeff Cain was promoted from captain to battalion chief, and assigned to serve as commander of the department’s C-shift, which includes 30 firefighters throughout the department’s six fire stations. The Columbus Fire Department operates three 24-hour shifts designated as A, B and C.
Cain is a 24-year veteran of the department with multiple certifications, including: Emergency Medical Technician, Fire Officer Strategy and Tactics, Hazardous Materials Technician, Rope Rescue Technician, Vehicle and Machinery Rescue Technician, and aircraft rescue-firefighter.
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Aaron Eichel has been promoted from private to lieutenant, and assigned to Station 1 as lieutenant of C-Shift. He will be utilized as a truck company and engine company officer whose duties include emergency operations response, company training, planning, and logistics and clerical support for the C-Shift battalion.
Eichel has served as a city firefighter since 2006. He holds several certifications, including: Emergency Medical Technician, Fire Officer Strategy and Tactics, Fire Officer I, Fire Officer II, Safety Officer, Hazardous Materials Technician, Rope Rescue Technician, Vehicle and Machinery Rescue Technician, Confined Space Rescue Technician and Swift Water Rescue Technician.
Benjamin Spencer has been promoted from private to captain as the department’s Training Officer. He will oversee fire department training programs and coordinate training at the city’s public safety training facility, which is currently under construction.
Spencer joined the Columbus Fire Department in 2013. His certifications include: Instructor II-III, Paramedic, Safety Officer, Fire Officer Strategy and Tactics, Fire Officer I, Fire Inspector I , Fire Inspector II, Hazardous Materials Technician, Rope Rescue Technician, Vehicle and Machinery Rescue Technician, Confined Space Rescue Technician and Swift Water Rescue Technician.
Spencer was promoted to training officer following a request for reassignment by the previous training officer, Capt. Dave Dwyer. Dwyer servesd as the department’s training officer since 2015, and previously held this position from 1992 to 1996. He has been assigned to the fire suppression division as Station 2 captain of A-Shift.
