The Unified Fire Authority serves as Utah's largest fire agency, according to the Taylorsville City website. The organization employs 680 people and provides services to more than 400,000 residents across nine cities and five townships located in Salt Lake County and Utah County, as well as all unincorporated areas of Salt Lake County. The agency's stated vision is to enhance and protect the safety and well-being of the Taylorsville community.
One facility operated by the agency is Station #118 Taylorsville, located at 5317 2700 West, Taylorsville, UT 84118, according to the Unified Fire Authority's website. This station is listed as having a location phone number of 801-743-7200. The agency also employs various leadership roles, such as Battalion Chiefs; according to the Unified Fire Authority's website, Lee Ascarte, Nathan Bogenschutz, and Nate Kay are listed as Battalion Chiefs.
During a City Council meeting on June 3, 2026, Richard Rich was present at the meeting in the capacity of a Unified Fire Battalion Chief, according to the Taylorsville City Council meeting minutes.
The agency's role in emergency response was highlighted during a hazardous materials incident on September 21, 2019. According to a report by Gephardt Daily, Unified Fire and hazmat crews responded to a semi-trailer on 4100 South in Taylorsville. The incident involved a trailer that was leaking chemical 'smoke' from its seams. Keith Garner, acting as the public information officer for the Unified Fire Authority, stated at the scene that the trailer contained chemicals that were flammable as well as cyanide.
During that September 21, 2019, incident, officials ordered everyone within a one-block radius to shelter in place. The streets were also shut down along 4100 South in both directions, from 1300 West to Redwood Road, according to the Gephardt Daily report. The report noted that the drivers of the vehicle had parked it earlier that afternoon around 2 o'clock and walked away after smelling smoke. Specialists in full hazmat suits were deployed to identify the chemicals and bring the situation under control, as Garner noted the situation could escalate if the chemicals were not contained.
For residents seeking assistance, the Taylorsville City website provides contact information for the fire department. For all emergencies, residents should call 911. Non-emergency inquiries can be directed to 801-840-4000, which is the phone number for Taylorsville City Dispatch. For business hour inquiries, the phone number 801-963-5400 is provided by the city's contact information page.
What this means for Taylorsville
Taylorsville residents rely on the Unified Fire Authority for large-scale emergency response and hazardous materials management. Because the agency is a multi-city organization, it provides specialized resources, such as hazmat crews, to handle complex situations like the chemical leak seen in September 2019, ensuring community safety through professionalized, regional coordination.
