Chapter 2.40 - FIRE DEPARTMENT

Part of the Code of Ordinances of South Salt Lake, UT.

Local law · Updated May 27, 2026 · 1,732 sections

The text

Sections:

2.40.010 - Fire department established.#

There is established a fire department which shall be known as the "South Salt Lake Fire Department" and shall be composed of one chief and such other officers and firemen as shall be funded by the city council.

(Ord. 2008-24 (part): editorially amended during 10/96 supplement; prior code § 5-1-1)

2.40.015 - Policies and practices established.#

The operational policies, procedures and protocols of the South Salt Lake Fire Department are those established by the fire chief, printed in the fire department manual and published in the most recently adopted International Fire Code, copies of which are kept in the fire department office.

The fire department shall also establish qualifications, tests, standards, procedures and rules, to be applied to all department employees, prospective employees, and all applicants for promotions.

(Ord. 2008-24 (part): Ord. 99-13; subsection A editorially added during 10/96 supplement)

2.40.020 - Fire chief—Appointment.#

The mayor shall appoint, subject to approval by the city council, a chief of the fire department, who shall qualify by taking and subscribing the constitutional oath of office.

The fire chief shall perform the duties as set forth by ordinance and the laws of the state of Utah.

(Ord. 2008-24 (part): editorially amended during 10/96 supplement; prior code § 5-1-2)

2.40.030 - Fire chief—Duties and powers.#

The duties of extinguishing fires, providing emergency medical care, including emergency medical transport, providing emergency rescue services, responding to hazardous materials incidents and otherwise protecting life and property within the city are entrusted to the chief of the fire department. He may make suitable regulations requiring officers and members of the department to wear an appropriate uniform or badge while on duty. He shall have sole and entire command over all officers and members of the department at fires; and shall have full charge at all times of all apparatus and equipment belonging to the department, and shall periodically examine and inspect the condition of such equipment. He shall adopt such measures as he shall deem expedient for the extinguishment of fires, providing emergency medical care, including emergency medical transport, providing emergency rescue services, responding to hazardous materials incidents, assuring the general protection and preservation of property, and the observance of duties required of him by the laws of the state and ordinances of the city.

It shall be the special duty of the chief of the fire department to see that at all times the provisions of this chapter relating to the protection and regulation of property are strictly enforced, as also all provisions of this chapter for the prevention of and the protection against fires.

(Ord. 2008-24 (part): prior code § 5-1-3)

2.40.040 - Fire chief—Power to appoint and remove.#

The chief of the fire department shall have power to appoint members and to remove any officer or member of the department at any time he sees fit in accordance with the personnel policies and procedures governing the department and the city. The chief may prescribe rules and examinations to determine the qualifications for fitness to be members of either the salaried or volunteer members of the fire department.

(Ord. 2008-24 (part): editorially amended during 10/96 supplement; prior code § 5-1-4)

2.40.050 - Emergency medical services.#

The fire department shall provide emergency medical services, including emergency medical transport. The fire chief shall assure that the department has sufficient staff, equipment, vehicles and supplies and that medical personnel are properly trained, certified and supervised in order to properly provide emergency medical services within the city, in accordance with the requirements of state rules, laws and licensure, and within the standards and protocols adopted by the department.

The fire chief shall also insure that the city fire department or any other contracted emergency medical or fire/rescue response entity providing said services to the city of South Salt Lake shall maintain properly configured and equipped fixed facilities.

These buildings shall be strategically located throughout the geographic boundaries of the city as needed to maintain prompt and efficient response times. This shall include, but not be limited to, facilities that can house medium to large size emergency vehicles and apparatus in heated bay areas that can maintain a minimum temperature of sixty (60) degrees F at all times.

The facilities shall also be capable of housing response personnel and shall be equipped with adequate sleeping facilities, kitchen areas, training rooms and other support areas within the building to support the emergency operational deployment needs on a twenty-four (24) hours per day and seven days per week basis. The building must meet all applicable fire, zoning and building codes and must be approved by the administrative officer of the city of South Salt Lake.

(Ord. 2008-24 (part): prior code § 5-1-5)

2.40.060 - Billing for emergency medical services.#

The department shall cause all recipients of emergency medical services to be billed for such services and supplies according to the fees established by state rule and law and shall provide a method to collect sums lawfully due and owing to the city.

(Ord. 2008-24 (part): editorially amended during 10/96 supplement; prior code § 5-1-6)

2.40.070 - Right-of-way.#

It is provided that the fire trucks of the city of South Salt Lake shall have the right-of-way over all other vehicles of every kind in the city of South Salt Lake, and it shall be unlawful for the owner or operator of any vehicle to drive or operate the same in front of a fire truck at a distance less than one hundred (100) feet or to follow the same at a distance closer than five hundred (500) feet, while the fire truck is enroute to a fire or other emergency.

(Ord. 2008-24 (part): Ord. 272 § 1, 1993: prior code § 5-1-7)

2.40.080 - Fire lanes.#

Whenever necessary in his judgment for the safety of persons or property in the event of a fire, and with reasonable regard for requirements of transportation, traffic and commerce, as determined in consultation with the city's safety committee, the fire chief shall be authorized to designate fire lanes along which the personnel and equipment of the fire department shall have unimpaired and ready access to any premises, buildings or structures, public or private, in which numbers of persons work, live or congregate, from time to time, for any purpose, including, but not limited to, factories, schools, hotels, hospitals, churches, theaters, restaurants and shopping centers and malls. Notice shall be given to persons in possession or control of such premises, buildings or structures as provided in this section and shall include a requirement that reasonable signs, notices, warnings, markings or other means be established and maintained to mark the designated fire lanes for the information and guidance of the person using such premises, buildings or structures. After such signs or markings are in place, any person who stops, stands or parks a vehicle in a designated fire lane, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or under the direction of a law enforcement or fire department officer or traffic control device, is guilty of a class C misdemeanor.

(Ord. 2008-24 (part): Ord. 273 § 1, 1993; Ord. 66A § 1, 1980: prior code § 5-1-3A)

2.40.090 - Blockading streets.#

Whenever a fire or other emergency shall occur it shall be lawful for the chief of the department or the officer in command to blockade any street, avenue, alley, sidewalk or other place if, in his judgment, it is necessary to insure the efficient working of the men, hose, engines or hook and ladder apparatus under his command and to protect the hose of said department from injury. He is authorized to request of the police department a detail of patrolmen sufficient, in his judgment, therefor, who for the time being shall act under the instruction of the chief of the fire department or officer in command. It shall be unlawful for any person to break through or attempt to break through the blockade mentioned in this section; or at any time to run over or attempt to run over the hose of the fire department with a motor vehicle, train or any other type of vehicle.

(Ord. 2008-24 (part): prior code § 5-1-8)

2.40.100 - Limits at fire.#

The fire chief or any police officer may prescribe the limits in the vicinity of a fire or other emergency within which no unauthorized person may enter.

(Ord. 2008-24 (part): prior code § 5-1-9)

2.40.110 - Removal of obstruction at fire.#

The chief of the fire department or other officer in command of the emergency response, may order the removal or destruction of any fence, building or structure, which he deems necessary in order to check the progress of the fire. All persons present at any fire shall be subject to the orders of the officer in charge of the removal and protection of the property and in extinguishing the fire.

(Ord. 2008-24 (part): prior code § 5-1-10)

2.40.120 - Demolishing buildings.#

In cases of imminent and urgent public necessity the chief of the fire department, or whoever is in command at the scene of the fire, may order any electric wires or poles in close proximity thereto to be cut or otherwise disposed of, and may also order the demolition of any building or other structure to prevent the spreading of an existing conflagration. In no case shall the chief or any officer or member of the fire department unnecessarily or recklessly destroy or injure any building, house or other property.

(Ord. 2008-24 (part): prior code § 5-1-11)

2.40.130 - Obstructing firemen in discharge of duties—Penalty.#

Every person who at the scene of any fire or other emergency disobeys the lawful orders of any public officer or fireman, or offers any resistance to or interference with the lawful efforts of any fireman, or company of firemen to extinguish the same, or engages in any disorderly conduct calculated to prevent the same from being extinguished, or who forbids, prevents or dissuades others from assisting to extinguish the same, is guilty of a class B misdemeanor.

(Ord. 2008-24 (part): prior code § 5-1-12)

2.40.140 - Disobedience of bystanders—Penalty.#

The fire chief, or any officer in charge at a fire or other emergency, after showing proper identification, at the scene of the incident may require the aid of each and every citizen, inhabitant or bystander in drawing any engine, vehicle or other fire apparatus to the fire, and, upon the refusal or neglect of any such person to immediately comply with such requirement, the offender shall be guilty of a class C misdemeanor. All officers authorized to command the aid or assistance of any citizen, inhabitant or bystander are authorized likewise to arrest such citizen, inhabitant or bystander for refusal to obey any reasonable directions for the extinguishing of fire or the protection of life or property.

(Ord. 2008-24 (part): prior code § 5-1-13)

2.40.150 - Unlawful interference—Penalty.#

Any person who shall wilfully hinder any officer or fireman in the discharge of his duty at a fire or other emergency, or in any manner injure, deface or destroy any engine, hose or other fire apparatus belonging to the city, or who shall interfere with any fire company or person, or who shall wilfully break or injure any water pipe, or interfere with any of the fire or emergency apparatus, or in any way interfere with the water or its source of supply, shall be deemed guilty of a class B misdemeanor.

(Ord. 2008-24 (part): prior code § 5-1-14)

2.40.160 - False alarms and other fire offenses—Penalty.#

Any person who shall, without cause, give an alarm of fire or other emergency by outcry, telephone call, ringing of bells or otherwise shall be deemed guilty of a class B misdemeanor.

(Ord. 2008-24 (part): prior code § 5-1-15)

2.40.170 - Investigation after fire—Report.#

The fire chief, or in his absence his assistants in charge of the fire, shall, after its extinguishment, make prompt and thorough investigation of the cause of the fire, the time of breaking out, the amount of loss and insurance, a description of the affected buildings and premises, and shall secure all other useful information available, and record the same in a record book kept for that purpose in the office of the department and shall report the same to the city council at such time as it may direct.

(Ord. 2008-24 (part): prior code § 5-1-16)

2.40.180 - Right to enter upon and inspect premises.#

In the presence of either consent or exigent circumstances, the fire chief or his deputies upon presentation of proper credentials shall have the right to enter upon any premises at all reasonable hours for the purpose of inspecting the same.

(Ord. 2008-24 (part): editorially amended during 10/96 supplement; prior code § 5-1-17)

2.40.190 - Fire inspections.#

The fire chief or his designee, shall have the right and it shall be his duty to make any inspection to determine whether or not there has been compliance with the terms of this chapter or this code. If he should find that there is defective wiring or any other unsafe condition in said property, then he shall give the owner or the person operating the same five days' notice requiring said owner or person to make changes or alterations necessary to render any building or property safe, and if any person shall disregard said notice and refuse or neglect to comply with the terms and demands therein, he shall be deemed guilty of a class C misdemeanor. In the alternative, the fire chief of designee shall have the authority to institute administrative enforcement proceedings to remedy the safety violation. The fire chief or designee shall have authority co-extensive with the building inspector.

Submission of Records by Others.

The fire chief or his designee may utilize a single-point repository service company for reporting, maintaining, organizing, and monitoring the services, testing. installation, repair, and or maintenance of fire prevention systems to commercial facilities within the city. If the fire chief or his designee utilizes a single-point repository system:

All certified contractors providing services, testing, installations, repair and/or maintenance of fire prevention systems to commercial facilities within the city are required to enroll and utilize the city approved single-point repository service company for reporting the rendered service information. This reporting information must be filed with the single-point repository service within five working days of these services being completed;

The single-point repository service company shall be a third party records repository which shall organize, maintain and monitor the received records, providing information to the city and the commercial facilities pertaining to the records status and timely notifications on required inspection timetables;

The single-point repository service company shall have permission to use the city logo and signature of the fire chief or his designee in all communications sent on behalf of the city in the above functions;

In addition, a copy of the record of each periodic inspection, test, servicing, repairs and maintenance shall be maintained on the commercial facilities premises, or other approved location, for a period of not less than three years, unless a different period of time is specified in the International Fire Code (IFC) or other appropriate standard. Records shall be made available to the Fire Official, and if requested, a copy provided to him; and

All applicable fees shall be paid directly from the contractor to the approved single-point repository service company.

(Ord. 2008-24 (part): prior code § 5-1-18)

(Ord. No. 2018-17, 12-12-2018)

2.40.200 - Construction of buildings under inspection of fire department.#

All buildings in the city of South Salt Lake shall be constructed under the inspection of the fire department or the fire chief or his assistants to be appointed by him, and said persons shall have authority co-extensive with the building inspector to make corrections as stated in Section 2.40.190.

(Ord. 2008-24 (part): prior code § 5-1-19)

2.40.210 - Entering firehouses.#

It shall be and is declared unlawful for any person or persons to enter the fire department house or any place where the equipment and apparatus of the fire department is stored, at any time, except on business pertaining to the fire department or other city business.

(Ord. 2008-24 (part): prior code § 5-1-20)

2.40.220 - Causing injury to apparatus—Penalty.#

Whoever shall use any fire engine, hose, vehicle or other apparatus belonging to the city for any private purpose other than the extinguishment of fires, or whoever shall remove the same or any part thereof from its place of deposit, or having control thereof, permit such engine, hose, vehicle or other apparatus to be used for any private purpose other than as aforesaid, or shall in any manner injure a fire engine, hose equipment vehicle or other fire apparatus belonging to the city or remove any screw, bolt, nut or part of such engine or other fire apparatus or in any manner interfere with the same, whether in or out of use, shall upon conviction be guilty of a class B misdemeanor.

(Ord. 2008-24 (part): prior code § 5-1-21)

2.40.230 - Equipment to be standardized.#

It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, corporation or association to sell or offer for sale in the city or for any authority having charge of public property to purchase or procure any fire hose, fire hydrant, fire engine or other equipment with threaded parts, except adapters and caps, for fire protective purposes, unless it is fitted and equipped with the standard hydrant stem and cap nuts and standard threads for fire hose and fire hydrant couplings and fittings designated as the national standard and adopted by the National Board of Fire Underwriters, which standard is designated as the standard for such equipment in the city.

(Ord. 2008-24 (part): prior code § 5-1-22)

2.40.240 - Prohibition of smoking.#

Where conditions are found to justify the prohibition of smoking, the fire chief or his assistants shall order the owner or occupant of any establishment or area to post suitable signs or placards in each room, building, structure or place in which such prohibition of smoking shall be enforced.

(Ord. 2008-24 (part): prior code § 5-1-24)

2.40.250 - Noncompliance with code.#

Any building constructed or repaired in violation of any part of this code may be caused to be removed by order of the fire chief or destroyed pursuant to the Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings, or its successor, as adopted elsewhere in this code; all buildings and enclosures which are or may be in a dangerous state shall be put in a safe condition or removed by order of the fire chief.

(Ord. 2008-24 (part): prior code § 5-1-23)

2.40.260 - Violation—Penalty.#

Any person violating any provision of this chapter, unless otherwise specifically provided, is guilty of a class C misdemeanor.

(Ord. 2008-24 (part): prior code § 5-1-25)

2.40.270 - Emergency responses—Cost recovery.#

This section shall provide procedures for recovering costs incurred by the city for assistance rendered by the city in responding to hazardous materials emergencies, aggravated fire emergencies, and aggravated emergency medical responses.

Any person or entity who knowingly requests city fire department emergency medical services to respond to unnecessary, false, capricious or for non-emergency situations shall be guilty of a class B misdemeanor.

For the purpose of this section, the following words shall have the following meanings:

"Hazardous material emergency" means a sudden or unexpected release of any substance that, because of its quantity, concentration or physical, chemical or infectious characteristics, presents a direct and immediate threat to public safety or the environment and requires immediate action to mitigate the threat.

"Aggravated fire emergency" means a fire proximately caused by the owner or occupier of property or a structure, which present a direct and immediate threat to public safety and requires immediate action to mitigate the threat, and the fire:

Is caused or contributed to by the failure to comply with an order from any city agency, department or official; or

Occurs as a direct result of a deliberate act in violation of the ordinances or regulations of the city or state; or

Is caused by arson; or

An alarm that results in a city fire unit being dispatched and the person or entity transmitting or causing the transmission of the alarm knows, or has reasonable basis to believe at the time of the transmission, that no fire or fire-related emergency exists.

"Aggravated medical emergency" means an alarm that results in a city fire unit or an emergency medical unit being dispatched and the person or entity transmitting or causing the transmission of the alarm knows at the time of the transmission that there are no reasonable grounds for believing that a medical emergency exists.

"Expenses" means the actual costs of government personnel including the base hourly rate, federal and state payroll taxes, workers' compensation benefits, fringe benefits, administrative overhead, cost of equipment, cost of equipment operations, cost of material, cost of disposal, cost of any contract labor and materials, cost of materials including costs for equipment breakdown. Expenses also include costs incurred in providing food to government personnel and other incidental costs when the response extends for more than a four hour period.

"Non-emergency situation" includes but is not limited to alcohol intoxication, minor lacerations, minor contusions and sprains, minor illness, insect and animal bites not deemed emergencies, rashes, skin disorders, hives without difficulty breathing, home delivery to avoid doctor and hospital services, venereal disease, patients seeking non-emergency transportation, forehead and scalp lacerations only, cold, sore throat, earache, hiccough, nervousness, anxiety, toothache, minor bruises, non-life threatening overdoses and non-life threatening self-inflicted injuries.

Recovery Authorization and Procedure. The city is authorized to recover expenses incurred by virtue of the city's response to a hazardous materials emergency; aggravated fire emergency, aggravated medical emergency or non-emergency situation from any person, corporation, partnership or other entity that the city has reasonable grounds to believe caused such an emergency. The following procedure shall be followed to establish grounds:

The city fire department shall determine responsibility for the emergency or response as defined above and notify the responsible party by mail of the department's determination of responsibility and the expenses to be recovered by the city.

The notice shall specify that the determined responsible party may appeal the department's decision before the city's administrative law judge by paying the required filing fee and filing with the city recorder a request in writing detailing the reason for contesting the city's decision within ten days of receiving the notice from the city as provided in Section 2.22.040 of this code.

In the event the determined responsible party appeals the determination, the administrative law judge shall hold a hearing within twenty (20) days of the filing of the request to consider any issue raised by the appeal, at which hearing the appealing party and the city shall be entitled to present evidence in support of their respective position as provided in Sections 2.22.040 and 2.22.080 of this code.

After the hearing, the administrative law judge shall issue an administrative order within ten days as provided in Section 2.22.100 and shall serve a copy of the order upon the petitioner as provided in Section 2.22.030 of this code. In the order, the administrative law judge shall fix the reasonable amount of costs, if any, that the responsible is required to pay to the city.

After exhaustion of administrative remedies, the responsible party may appeal the decision of the administrative law judge to the district court as provided by law. If a responsible party fails to make a timely request for an administrative hearing, or determination of the city or, in the case of an administrative order, the order of the administrative law judge, shall be final without right to further appeal.

No Admission of Liability. The payment of expenses determined owing under this section does not constitute:

An admission of liability or negligence in any legal proceedings brought by third parties; or

An admission of criminal intent.

Action to Recover Expenses. In the event the parties determined to be responsible for the repayment of expenses incurred due to the city's response to such an emergency fail to make payment to the city within thirty (30) days after a final administrative determination of any appeal to the city or thirty (30) days from the deadline for the appeal in the event no appeal is filed, the city may initiate legal action to recover from the determined responsible parties the expenses determined to be owing, including the city's reasonable attorney's fees.

Fees.

Personnel (charged at the applicable rate for government personnel) and the cost of equipment and materials as per the consolidated fee schedule as outlined in subsection (C)(4) of this section.

The city is authorized to recover fees and expenses in behalf of other agencies that may be called upon to assist in the response.

(Ord. 2008-24 (part): Ord. 2004-06, 2004)