Ben Janes Appointed as Corvallis Fire Chief

February 14, 2022 - Ben Janes has been appointed to the position of Fire Chief of the Corvallis Fire Department. City Manager Mark Shepard made the announcement after a three-month transition period in which Janes served as Interim Fire Chief.

“Chief Janes brings a wealth of knowledge and a thorough understanding of the Fire Department’s operations and strategic vision,” Shepard said. “In addition, he is a respected leader who will work hard to develop the next generation of firefighters and professional staff at the Department.”

Janes, a 20-year veteran of CFD, was born and raised in Corvallis and came up through the Corvallis school system, eventually graduating from Linn-Benton Community College and Oregon State University. Janes started in 2001 as a volunteer firefighter with CFD, and he worked his way through the ranks over the next two decades, serving as a fire prevention assistant, firefighter, lieutenant, and battalion chief. In 2020, Janes was named Deputy Fire Chief, responsible for day-to-day operations at the Department’s five stations.

“It is both humbling and exciting to be leading the Corvallis Fire Department into the future,” Janes said. “CFD continues to be committed to serving the community and carrying out the department’s mission of protecting life, property, and the environment of the communities we serve with professionalism, integrity, and compassion.” 

Janes lives in Corvallis with this wife, an ICU nurse, and their two dogs. In his spare time, he enjoys golfing, camping, and playing with his pups.

The Corvallis Fire Department provides fire prevention and suppression services to the City of Corvallis, Oregon State University, and the surrounding Corvallis Rural Fire Protection District. The department also provides ambulance service for nearly all of Benton County, a 765-square-mile area. The department is known throughout the Pacific Northwest for its strong volunteer program that has mentored dozens of future firefighters who have gone on to serve communities around the country.