Benjamin “B.J.” Frantz has moved up the ladder in the Oxford Fire Department.

Last week, the township board voted 7-0 to promote him to the position of lieutenant fire inspector effective Oct. 16.

He will fill the position vacated by Brad Horton, who retired in May after 33 years with the department.

Frantz, a 2000 Lake Orion High School graduate, is excited about the promotion, particularly because it will give him more time to spend with his wife of 14 years, Barb, and three children – Olivia, 12; Nicholas, 10; and Andrew, 8.

“I’ll be home every night instead of working (a 24-hour) shift,” he said.

Frantz has been involved in firefighting since his teen years. As a high school student, he served as a cadet with the Rochester Hills Fire Department. That’s what sparked his interest in the profession.

He spent four years as a paid-on-call firefighter in Orion Township before switching to Oxford in July 2004.

Frantz achieved his dream of becoming a full-time firefighter in January 2008 and was later promoted to shift sergeant in December 2016.

After all these years, he still loves his work.

“I think it’s the best job in the world,” Frantz said. “I just like the team aspect of it, really. It’s kind of like being on the football team in high school. You do everything as a team and you’re better as a team.”

He truly enjoys fighting fires and getting to help folks on a daily basis.

“It’s rewarding to help people in their time of need,” Frantz said.