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, he attended Chemeketa Community College where he became a Paramedic. From there, Chief Stange worked for Metro West Ambulance before being offered a full-time position as a Firefighter/Paramedic with Polk County Fire District No.1. 

As a firefighter, Chief 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.

By the time he became the Fire Chief, Chief Stange had been a Volunteer Firefighter, Volunteer Lieutenant, Resident Volunteer, Firefighter/Paramedic, and Captain with the Fire District.

He currently serves as the President and Fire Service Representative on the Special District's Association of Oregon's (SDAO) Board of Directors. He is also on the Governor's Fire Service Policy Council, the legislative committees for both SDAO and the Oregon Fire Chiefs Association (OFCA), and the 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.