Ken Ahrens named chief of the Carlsbad Fire Department

Ken Ahrens has been promoted to fire chief of the Carlsbad Fire Department, Carlsbad Mayor Dale Janway announced Jan. 4.

Ahrens, formerly assistant fire chief, succeeds former Chief Rick Lopez, who retired at the end of the year after nearly two decades of service with the department, Janway said.

Ahrens joined the Carlsbad Fire Department as firefighter/EMT in 2010 and later served as a staff development officer and fire marshal before his promotion to assistant fire chief in 2021, the mayor said.

Janway wished Lopez the best and expressed optimism over Ahrens’ ability to lead the department.

“We know Chief Ahrens will do an excellent job and look forward to working with him in this important position,” the mayor said. “Recently, Chief Ahrens brought several trainees by City Hall to visit, and we’re thrilled to see the Carlsbad Fire Department continuing to draw excellent employees.”