Mission Statement
The Garland Fire Department will protect the lives and property of the communities we serve. This will be accomplished through continued quality training of its members, community involvement through public education, and a fire prevention program.
Core Values
Family
Integrity
Professionalism
State of Readiness
Teamwork
Compassion
Safety
Honor
Garland Firefighter Code of Ethics
I understand that I have the responsibility to conduct myself to reflect proper ethical behavior and integrity. In so doing, I will help foster a continuing positive public perception of the fire service. Therefore, I pledge the following…
- Always conduct myself on and off duty, positively reflecting on myself, my department, and the fire service in general.
- Accept responsibility for my actions and the consequences of my actions.
- Support the concept of fairness and the value of diverse thoughts and opinions.
- Avoid situations that would adversely affect the credibility or public perception of the fire service profession.
- Be truthful and honest and report instances of cheating or other dishonest acts that compromise the integrity of the fire service.
- Conduct my personal affairs in a manner that does not improperly influence the performance of my duties or bring discredit to my organization.
- Be respectful and conscious of each member’s safety and welfare.
- Recognize that I serve in a position of public trust that requires stewardship in the fair and efficient use of publicly owned resources, including uniforms, facilities, vehicles, and equipment, and that these are protected from misuse and theft.
- Exercise professionalism, competence, respect, and loyalty in performing my duties and use information, confidential or otherwise, gained by my position only to benefit those I am entrusted to serve.
- Never propose or accept personal rewards, special privileges, benefits, advancement, honors, or gifts that may create a conflict of interest or appearance.
- Never engage in activities involving alcohol or other substance use or abuse that can impair my mental state or the performance of my duties and compromise safety.
- Never discriminate based on race, religion, color, creed, age, marital status, national origin, ancestry, gender, sexual preference, medical condition, or handicap.
- Never harass, intimidate, or threaten fellow service members or the public and stop or report the actions of other firefighters who engage in such behaviors.
- Responsibly use social networking, electronic communications, or other media technology opportunities in a manner that does not discredit, dishonor, or embarrass my organization, the fire service, and the public. I also understand that failure to resolve or report inappropriate media use equates to condoning this behavior.
Department History
There has been some confusion as to when the department was actually established. Records being what they were, we came across a couple of years that were possible. 1911 and 1917. We dug as much as we could and talked with our senior members at the time of this research and agreed that 1911 would have made more sense. So, that’s what we ‘advertise.’ Established in 1911 as a volunteer department. The department obtained a 1911 Model T for its first engine. We proudly still display that vehicle today. We recently restored it to running and will use it on parades and other events as requested. Back in the early days, only Garland and Tremonton in this area provided fire and EMS services. We were told many stories of how those early Garland Firefighters drove to Plymouth in the winter months in that open-cab Model T to respond to a structure fire. And to think, that engine only held 30 gallons of water.
Over the years, Garland elected not to take as heavy a role in EMS and stayed as a first responder but did respond to many grass fire calls throughout the county. Crews spent many hours in the Grouse Creek area helping the county suppress brush fires. Wildfires became the one thing Garland could be counted upon to be available to run on all the grass fires Box Elder County had. Still, to this day, though not quite as much due to job commitments, we still can be found running brush trucks and our tender all over Box Elder County.
Recently Garland Fire has taken a more serious role with EMS. A couple of years ago, the department became an EMT Quick Response unit, and in 2021 became an Advanced Quick Response Unit. This means that Garland could now provide Advanced Life Support measures when those types of calls came. This is especially important in cardiac arrest, chest pain, and diabetic emergencies when critical medications can be given to give the patient a greater chance of survival.
Garland Fire is continually looking for the chance to provide a better service for our community. The department has more Advanced EMTS than ever before. We have trained fire investigators and fire inspectors on staff. We have individuals with rescue tech and hazmat tech certifications as well. We are a well-rounded, well-trained department with a great passion to provide the best care possible and still keep the cost as low as possible.
As the department’s fleet continued to age, the department worked hard to secure a new engine. Last year we were approved to receive a new fire engine to replace the old Engine 41. Eng 41 is 1996 Pierce Sabre. Eng 41 is now 27 years old and overdue for replacement, as we were having pump problems and electrical issues regularly. After a few years of trying to get a new engine approved, 2022 was finally the year. A new Rosenberger engine was approved and is scheduled to arrive in late 2023. This is much needed with the growth the city and the county are already seeing in the area. Fire engine production has been a growing concern; when we ordered, it was almost a 2-year process. If the engine comes in Oct, that will be an 18-month process. In April of 2023, it now takes as long as 44 months to receive an engine once it’s ordered. Before the pandemic, fire engines could be obtained in about 6-8 months. The ever-rising cost is always an issue, and the department took the task seriously but feels the price tag of $637,000 was very reasonable, and this engine will serve for many, many years as it was also built for future growth in mind.