Feb. 1, 2000
An overnight fire whips through a business in West Valley City, while firefighters just a few minutes away stay in their station.
The closest fire station was not called out and there are questions today about whether jealousy over jurisdicitions is jeopardizing public safety.
News Specialist Jill Atwood has been investigating the case and has the story.
The West Valley City fire department says an engine from a nearby county station wouldn't have made a difference in this fire at Thai City Restaurant.
But I am told a fire will double in size every 60 seconds, so obviously the sooner you get water on the flames the better.
Daylight reveals what's left of the Thai City Restaurant.
Fire destroyed the building early Monday morning. While crews working the flames did their best, could the fire have been under control sooner with the help of a closer engine?
Capt. Bill Brass/ Salt Lake Co. Fire Dept.: "We're confused because we have a mutual aid agreement with West Valley and as of late there have been several incidents where our units have been very close and not called upon."
Captain Bill Brass says saving lives and property is a firefighter's number one priority, that's why he says it's important for city and county agencies to work together not against each other.
When the first West Valley engine arrived on the scene, crews immediately called for a second alarm. The dispatch then called in an engine from Salt Lake City. But as it turns out, their was a much closer county engine less than two miles away.
In fact, dispatchers did send a paramedic rescue unit from that county fire station -- the same station where the engine would have come from. It made it there in seven minutes.
But the engine was called in from Salt Lake City--several miles away. It took 14 minutes to arrive on the scene-- twice as long.
Van Summers/West Valley City Fire Chief: "That's their call, not ours. They decide which units are going to make the response, not us. It's their apparatus and manpower and equipment."
While West Valley says the county chooses which engines run,
the county says that's absolutely false, that West Valley in fact makes that call. Salt Lake County also claims
this dispute goes back to one underlying issue.
"We have been accused of trying to take over the valley's fire service, and that has never been our agenda."
Despite that, the county says politics should never interfere with fighting fires. They suggest dissolving all boundaries and sending the closest unit.
Both sides will meet on Thursday morning to iron out this whole situation.
Everyone involved always wants to provide the best service and send the closest possible unit.
Both sides will admit that doesn't always happen, so some changes have to be made in the system.
