Pahranagat Valley Graduate Sworn in as Utah Firefighter

by

Pahranagat Valley High School graduate (2015) Utah Ray was sworn in Oct. 12 as a firefighter for the Layton City Fire Department (LCFD) in the state of Utah during a badge-pinning ceremony welcoming 18 new firefighters to the growing department. After being sworn in, Ray was pinned with his firefighter badge by his mother and fianceé.

Shortly before graduating from the Recruit Candidate Academy at Utah Valley University (RCA), Ray’s class was visited by the chief of the LCFD, Kevin Ward, for a recruitment pitch. Ray liked what he heard about the department and attended a recruitment open house in Layton the following week. That’s when he decided to submit an application.

Courtesy Photo – Utah Ray with his mother Yoko Ray at a Badge Pinning Ceremony, Oct. 12 in Layton, Utah.

Ray graduated from the RCA April 21, 2022 and almost immediately started the testing process for the Layton Fire Department. He was offered a position as a firefighter/advanced emergency medical technician in early June and started his career in the fire service just two months after graduating from the RCA. 

After completing a six-week in-house fire academy Ray was assigned to Station 53, the busiest station in the city. Ray said he was thankful to be able to start his career at the busy station and hopes he will gain a lot of experience during his probationary year.

Ray also found an unexpected connection to the Alamo Area at Station 53. His captain, Roxanne Bauman, lived in Lincoln County during the early 2000s while her husband completed an agriculture internship at Penoyer Farms near Rachel . Ray said he is amazed how everywhere he turns he finds a connection to his hometown.

The Layton City Fire Department currently operates three fire stations, with a fourth opening November 2022. The department provides fire protection and medical coverage for 25 square miles of property, which includes unincorporated areas of Davis County. Layton City has a fire agreement with Davis County to protect unincorporated areas. Layton City also has an agreement with the Davis County Solid Waste Management and Energy Recovery Facility and Landfill to provide inspection and firefighting needs. The department has 11 mutual aid agreements with surrounding fire departments in Davis County, including Hill Air Force Base.