Meeting: Chico Fire

Chief Steve Standridge started in the position of Chico fire chief at the end of January,2018  He hails from Colorado, where he served for 23 years with the South Metro Fire Rescue Authority outside of Denver, most recently as emergency management division chief. That department, he says, was huge—covering 172 square miles and comprising some 300 firefighters. At 51, he’s looking forward to working with a smaller, moreintimate operation.

Originally from Medford, Oregon, and with family spanning from Santa Cruz to Southern Oregon, Chico is middle ground for Steve. And with a teenager and preteen at home, being able to be outdoors in Chico is appealing.