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South Davis Metro Fire chief highlights staffing, cancer prevention and hazmat honors
Summary
Fire Chief Greg Stewart gave the department’s annual report, citing recruitment and retention as top priorities, nearly 5,600 EMS calls in 2024 and a recent state award for the hazmat team; he told council the department is preparing for wildfire risk tied to new state rules.
Fire Chief Greg Stewart presented South Davis Metro Fire’s 2024 annual report to the North Salt Lake City Council on May 6, emphasizing recruitment and retention, firefighter cancer prevention and mental-health supports.
Stewart told the council the special service district has 97 sworn firefighters, with a typical daily staffing of 29 and a minimum staffing threshold of 24. “We had a total calls for service of 7,503 in 2024…about 70% of our work is medical,” Stewart said, noting EMS calls were nearly 5,600 with 3,577 ambulance transports last year.
The chief said his department has three central priorities: keep trained firefighters from leaving for marginally higher pay elsewhere, reduce career cancer risk through screening and better gear rotation, and expand resilience and peer-support programs for mental health. “We invest to send them to Recruit Academy…they really get to learn the department,” Stewart said.
Stewart also highlighted specialty teams and recognition: Foxborough’s Station 85 houses the ladder truck and the hazmat team (recently named LEPC Hazmat Team of the Year), a tech-rescue station handles canyon and heavy-extrication operations, and a paramedic affiliation with Weber State is helping the district “home-grow” paramedics.
During Q&A, council members asked about wildfire preparedness tied to state legislation (House Bill 48). Stewart said the state is still writing rules and expects about 18 months of work on implementation; many details remain unresolved including who will conduct property site assessments and how fees or fines would work. “There are still more questions than answers at this point,” he said, urging continued emphasis on community risk-reduction and annual fuels projects.
The chief closed by inviting councilmembers and residents to contact him with concerns and by stressing that the department’s mission is “to preserve life, protect property, and exceed the expectations of those we serve.”
