Meet Command 352

Chief Jim Cannell

Chief Cannell retired from the Columbus Division of Fire after 33 years of service. He served at every rank up to Assistant Chief, where he served as the Operations Chief for 5 years.

Chief Cannell’s experience in fire service roles runs the gamut: He joined the Columbus Division of Fire in 1989, rising through the ranks to serve as deputy chief from 2011–-2016 and assistant fire chief until 2019.

Chief Cannell has served in every operational rank and participated in every aspect of fire, rescue and EMS operations through the years. That includes his work since 2001 as paid-on-call captain with the Porter-Kingston Fire District in his home community of Delaware County, serving on Ohio Task Force 1 and in deployment as a rescue squad member to the World Trade Center following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Much of his past work has been dedicated to training other firefighters in operations and professional development. He is currently the training officer for Porter-Kingston and was the fire and EMS training director for the Delaware Area Career Center from 2001 to 2007.

Chief Cannell is currently serving as the interim Fire Chief of Miami Township in Yellow Springs, Ohio.