Herald staff
ARLINGTON — The city announced Thursday that it will hire Michael J. Ganz to be Arlington’s new fire chief.
Ganz, deputy chief of operations for the Redmond Fire Department, will start work on Sept. 4. He replaces longtime fire chief Dean Olsen, who retired in February after 26 years in Arlington.
"We are very fortunate to have found such an outstanding person to take our fire department to the next level," Mayor Bob Kraski said of Ganz.
Before Ganz steps into his new role, the city council must approve his four-year contract, with a first year salary of $84,000.
It will be on the council’s agenda Aug. 20, said city administrator Kristin Banfield. If the contract is approved, Ganz will be sworn in at the first council meeting in September.
Ganz was one of 31 applicants for the job. He has worked for more than 26 years in the fire service, starting as a volunteer firefighter in Kirkland. Ganz spent more than 20 years as a firefighter in Bellevue, working up to the level of battalion chief.
"I am very excited about the opportunity to work with a growing city and the challenges that presents," Ganz said.
Ganz, 45, lives on Camano Island with his wife and two children.
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