We would all like to express our congratulations to Captain Layne Hilton on his upcoming retirement.

Captain Hilton was hired with Salt Lake County Fire in March of 1995. He has held various roles within the department with most recently performing duties as the Behavioral Health and Wellness Officer.

Captain Hilton has been able to affect many lives, and his expertise and knowledge has been invaluable to not only our department, but to all who have utilized his services.

He leaves us with this message:

Thank you all for the memories and friendship and thanks to the UFA for all of the amazing opportunities. Take care of yourselves and each other!

Thank you for 31 years of dedicated service to the community and your Fire Family. You have made Unified Fire Authority a better place, and we wish you all the best of luck in your retirement

Plenty of fun on Saturday before the rain started!

Pancake Breakfast at Station 126 in Midvale...awesome!

Firefighter Chili Cookoff to benefit the Burn Camp......packed!!

Thanks to all those that stopped by to support us!

🚨🔥 IS YOUR PHONE CHARGING RIGHT NOW? 📱🔋

What about your laptop, power tools, or your child’s electric scooter?

⚠️ That everyday battery could become a serious fire hazard if it’s damaged, overheats, or is charged improperly.

It’s Fire Prevention Week (October 4–10), and Unified Fire Authority wants to remind our community that something as simple as how and where you charge your devices can make a big difference in keeping your family safe.

🔋 Lithium-ion batteries are everywhere! They power our phones, laptops, e-bikes, scooters, power tools, and countless other devices we use every day.

While these batteries are generally safe when used properly, damaged or improperly charged batteries can overheat, catch fire, and even explode.

🚒 5 SIMPLE WAYS TO HELP PREVENT A BATTERY FIRE:

✅ USE THE RIGHT CHARGER. Always use the charger that came with your device or one approved by the manufacturer.

✅ KEEP IT OFF YOUR BED! Never charge devices under pillows, on couches, or on bedding. These surfaces can trap heat.

✅ UNPLUG WHEN FULL. Avoid leaving devices charging longer than necessary.

✅ KEEP EXITS CLEAR. Never charge e-bikes, scooters, or other battery-powered equipment where they could block your escape.

✅ KNOW THE WARNING SIGNS. Unusual heat, swelling, strange odors, hissing sounds, or smoke could mean a battery is failing.

🚨 If a battery starts smoking or catches fire, get everyone outside immediately and call 911. Don’t attempt to fight a lithium-ion battery fire yourself.

❤️ At Unified Fire Authority, we’d much rather help you prevent a fire than respond to one.

💬 NOW WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

How many devices are charging in your home right now? 📱💻🔋

And be honest... have you ever charged your phone on your bed or under your pillow? 👀

👇 Drop your answer in the comments and SHARE this post with someone who could use this reminder!

A few small changes in your charging habits could help prevent a devastating fire.

🔥 Fire Prevention Week 2026
⚡ Charge into Fire Safety — Safe Charging Is a Superpower!

#FirePreventionWeek #UnifiedFireAuthority #UFA #LithiumIonBatterySafety

Continuing with fire prevention week, we’ve talked about battery safety. Another big part of fire prevention is readiness. For you, readiness during an incident consists of things such as, but not limited to home evacuation plans, and family meet-up spots. Are you and your family ready?

For us, readiness begins with training.

This week our crews have had the opportunity to train on donated structures. This allows us the chance to train on various methods outside of our training props. Every single structure or building presents with its own unique set of challenges. From roof operations, chainsaws skills, hose deployments and search techniques. These opportunities are invaluable to us, so we can be better prepared to serve you.

Thank you to the cities of @millcreekut and @cityofholladay for these opportunities as well as the resident who donated the home for us to train!