Fire Chief Aug 2016-Present

stange.ben@polk1.org

 

Chief Stange became a Volunteer Firefighter with Polk County Fire District No.1 in 2000 while attending Western Oregon University. He had never considered a career in the fire service until his experience as a volunteer with the District. After graduating from Western, Stange attended Chemeketa Community College where he became a Paramedic. From there, he moved back to his hometown of Portland and worked for Metro West Ambulance before returning to Monmouth/Independence as a full-time Firefighter/Paramedic with Polk County Fire District No.1.

As a firefighter, Stange became the Union President representing the full-time firefighters with the District. He was also appointed by both Governors Kitzhaber and Brown to serve as the Labor Chair on the State's Management-Labor Advisory Committee on worker's compensation. In 2016, Stange was hired as Polk County Fire District No.1's Fire Chief.

In addition to his work as the Fire Chief, Chief Stange currently serves as the President on the Special District's Association of Oregon's (SDAO) Board of Directors. He also serves as Co-Chair of the Governor's Fire Service Policy Council, the legislative committees for both SDAO and the Oregon Fire Chiefs Association (OFCA), and the Observer for the Special District's Insurance Trust (SDIS).

On his days off, he can be seen around town running with his wife or attending any one of his three son's many sporting events.