Fire Prevention Board

UTAH STATE FIRE PREVENTION BOARD
VIRTUAL MEETING
DATE 1/14/2025 Meeting Minutes
APPROVED

BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT
Coy Porter, Board Chair Mike Leishman
Chris Dawson, Vice Chair Mike Owens
Coty Chadburn Patrick Tomasino
Joseph Decker Russ Young
Chris Kimball
BOARD MEMBERS EXCUSED
Joey Mittelman
Brett Ostler
STAFF PRESENT
Ted Black, State Fire Marshal
Jon Ritchie, Chief Deputy Fire Marshal
Marcus Yockey, Assistant Attorney General
Jana DeMille
Nia Kekauoha
OTHERS Members of the public and the fire service attended this meeting. The attendance log is kept with the full record of the meeting.

Item #1, Board meeting called to order by Board Chair Coy Porter. The meeting started at 8:30 A.M., over Google Meet and at the State Fire Marshal’s Office. Board Member Roll Call – quorum present.
Item #2, Approval of the November 12 board meeting minutes. Motion made by Mike Owens to approve the minutes; seconded by Coty Chadburn. Motion carried.
Item #3, Report to the Board by Chief Scott Spencer, Chair, Utah Fire Service Certification Council.
Item #4, Report to the Board by Bradley Wardle, Director of Utah Fire and Rescue Academy. UFRA Annual Report & Winter Fire School
Item #5, Recommendation by Bradley Wardle, Director of Utah Fire and Rescue Academy. Mr. Wardle recommends Michael Slater, Deputy Chief with Ogden City Fire Department, as a member of Certification Council, replacing Chief Dave Olsen, Clinton City Fire Department.
Motion made by Russ Young to appoint Michael Slater to the Certification Council; seconded by Chris Dawson. Motion carried.
Item #6, Old Business: None
Item #7, New Business: None
Item #8, Public Comment (limit to 2 minutes) - None

UTAH STATE FIRE PREVENTION BOARD

VIRTUAL MEETING

DATE 3/11/2025 Meeting Minutes

APPROVED

BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT

Chris Dawson, Vice Chair                                         Mike Leishman

Joey Mittelman                                                           Lloyd Evans

Mike Owens                                                                 Coty Chadburn                                                                         

Joseph Decker                                                           Russ Young    

Chris Kimball

                                                                                                                                                             

BOARD MEMBERS EXCUSED

Coy Porter, Chair

Patrick Tomasino  

STAFF PRESENT                                                                                       

Ted Black, State Fire Marshal                                                              

Jon Ritchie, Chief Deputy Fire Marshal

Rich Jorgensen, Assistant Attorney General

Jana DeMille

OTHERS

Members of the public and the fire service attended this meeting.  The attendance log is kept with the full record of the meeting. 

Item #1, Board meeting called to order by Board Vice Chair Chris Dawson.  The meeting started at 8:30 A.M., over Google Meet and at the State Fire Marshal’s Office.  Board Member Roll Call – quorum present.

Item #2, Approval of January 14, 2025, board meeting minutes.  Motion made by Russ Young to approve the minutes; seconded by Mike Owens.  Motion carried.

Item #3, Report to the Board by Jolene Chamberlain, for Chief Scott Spencer, Chair, Utah Fire Service Certification Council.

Item #4, Report to the Board by Bradley Wardle, Director of Utah Fire and Rescue Academy.

Item #5, Legislative update by Ted Black, Utah State Fire Marshal.

Item #6, Recent NERIS training and information. Ted Black, Utah State Fire Marshal.

Item #7, Approval by the Board to adopt the transition from National Fire Incident Reporting system (NFIRS) and establish the National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS), as Utah’s fire incident reporting system. Ted Black, Utah State Fire Marshal. Motion made by Mike Owens; seconded by Joey Mittelman. Roll Call Vote.  Motion passed. 

Item #8, Old Business:  None

Item #9, New Business:  None

Item #10, Public Comment (limit to 2 minutes) - None

Item #11, Approval by the Board to conduct the May 13, 2025, Fire Prevention Board meeting virtually. Motion made by Mike Owens; seconded by Joey Mittelman.  Motion carries.

Item #12, The next Board Meeting is May 11, 2025, beginning at 8:30 am at the Utah State Fire Marshal’s office, 410 W 9800 S, Suite #372, Sandy, UT  84070, and available via Google Meet.

Motion to adjourn made by Russ Young.  Meeting adjourned.

This is accordion content!

UTAH STATE FIRE PREVENTION BOARD

Meeting Minutes

July 7, 2025

PENDING APPROVAL

BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT

Coy Porter, Board Chair	Joey Mittelman
Chris Dawson, Vice Chair	Lloyd Owens (for Brett Ostler)
Coty Chadburn	Mike Owens
Joseph Decker	Patrick Tomasino
Mike Leishman	Russ Young

                                                                                                                                       

BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT

Chris Kimball       

STAFF PRESENT                                                                                       

Ted Black, State Fire Marshal	Jim Barnett	Sheri Stevens
Jon Ritchie, Chief Deputy	Shane Cook	Michael Young
Marcus Yockey, Asst Attorney General	Cory Feese
Jana DeMille, Board Secretary	Venice Kekauoha

 

OTHERS

Members of the public and the fire service attended this meeting.  The attendance log is kept with the full record of the meeting. 

Item #1, Board meeting called to order by Board Chair Coy Porter.  The meeting started at 8:30 A.M., over Google Meet and at the State Fire Marshal’s Office.  Board Member Roll Call – quorum present.

Item #2, Approval of the March 11, 2025 board meeting minutes (no meeting held in May 2025).  Motion made by Chris Dawson to approve the minutes; seconded by Russ Young.  Motion carried.

Item #3, Report to the Board by Chief Scott Spencer, Chair, Utah Fire Service Certification Council.     

Chief Spencer reported on the May 21st meeting, highlighting the successful re-accreditation of Davis Technical College and an overview of skills testing from January to March, totaling 693 tests with an additional 1514 re-certifications. Spencer also noted common issues in failed skills tests, particularly incorrect fire flow calculations, and mentioned ongoing efforts to improve instructor training to address these challenges. Additionally, he shared that free Friday testing at UFRA is gaining popularity and he discussed a positive live fire site visit at South Technical College, where collaboration efforts are underway to help improve their newer program.

Chief Spencer reported that the Certification Council continues to receive portfolios for Officer 2 and Officer 4 certifications, indicating firefighters are actively pursuing advanced levels.  Spencer also noted the approval for department testers to assist nearby departments, which will alleviate travel burdens for rural areas. He also emphasized the reinforcement of the tester uniform policy, requiring UFRA polo shirts and khaki pants to maintain professionalism during site visits.

Chief Spencer commended Sarah Head and her team for their work on the Pro Board and IFSAC re-accreditation visits, which involved updating skill levels to meet NFPA requirements and ensure third-party verification.

Item #4, Report to the Board by Marc McElreath, Utah Fire and Rescue Academy (for Bradley Wardle).

Marc McElreath provided an update on staffing, noting three open positions due to retirements, with plans to fill them by September.  Mr. McElreath also reported that the ARF program is progressing, with the first pilot class scheduled for August in Cedar City, and a light/air truck purchase is underway for use at the Winter Fire School in January 2026.  Winter Fire School is January 23 & 24, with registration opening around November 3.  They are still collecting information for the cancer initiative.  Mr. McElreath encouraged all departments to return the requested roster information. 

Item #5, Legislative update, Ted Black, Utah State Fire Marshal. 

Fire Marshall Black provided a legislative update, we may see some legislative updates on CO2 systems to grant the Fire Prevention Board more regulatory authority, and legislation to correct language for bi-directional antenna systems in existing school buildings. Mr. Black also mentioned the upcoming fire code adoption and potential legislation to update the wildland urban interface code.

Item #6, Recent NERIS training and information, Ted Black, Utah State Fire Marshal.

Onboarding to the NERIS system continues.  Two Utah departments are already onboarding, with the rest to follow by end of November.  The SFMO will be housing the previous 10 years of NFIRS data.  FM Black emphasized the importance of improving data quality.  The data has long-term effects, with one example being how insufficient reporting has impacted the cancer initiative. 

Board Chair Coy Porter asked that Lloyd Evans provide an update on the current wildland fire situation.  Mr. Evans noted an average to high fire year due to heat and low moisture, with successful containment of most fires to a small size, except for three large incidents in the south.  The severity remains high across the state, with crews, engines, and water tenders still deployed.

Item #7, Old Business:  None

Item #8, New Business:  None

Item #9, Public Comment (limited to 2 minutes):  None

Item #10,  Approval by the Board to conduct the September 9, 2025 Fire Prevention Board meeting virtually and in person.  Motion made by Mike Owens and seconded by Chris Dawson.  Motion carried.

Item #11, Next Board Meeting is September 9, 2025, at 8:30 am, at the State Fire Marshal’s office, 410 West 9800 South, Suite 372, Sandy, Utah. 

Motion to adjourn made by Joey Mittelman. 

Portions of the minutes may have been generated with the assistance of AI. Its use is generally to personalize or proofread content. If errors or inaccuracies are found, please contact [email protected].

UTAH STATE FIRE PREVENTION BOARD

Meeting Minutes

November 18, 2025

APPROVED

BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT

Coy Porter, Board Chair	Mike Owens
Coty Chadburn	Lloyd Evans (for Brett Ostler)
Joseph Decker	Russ Young
Chris Kimball	Mike Leishman

BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT

Chris Dawson

Patrick Tomasino

STAFF PRESENT

Ted Black, State Fire Marshal	Keenan Price, Asst Attorney General	Jana DeMille, Board Secretary
Andrew McCormick

OTHERS

Members of the public and the fire service attended this meeting. The attendance log is kept with the full record of the meeting.

Item #1, Board meeting called to order by Board Chair Coy Porter. The meeting started at 8:30 A.M., over Google Meet and at the State Fire Marshal’s Office. Board Member Roll Call – quorum present.

Item #2, Approval of the September 9, 2025 board meeting minutes. Motion made by Joey Mittelman to approve the minutes; seconded by Russ Young. Motion carried.

Item #3, Report to the Board by Chief Scott Spencer, Chair, Utah Fire Service Certification Council. Jolene Chamberlain presented on behalf of Chief Spencer.

Item #4, Report to the Board by Bradley Wardle, Director of Utah Fire and Rescue Academy (UFRA) Annual Report & Winter Fire School. Mr. Wardle reviewed UFRA's annual report, highlighting changes made to Utah State Code 53B-29-202, organizational adjustments to accommodate growth, and the updated organizational chart. He also covered UFRA funding, capital purchases, classes and certifications delivered for Fiscal Year 2024-2025, and trends in training and customer service. Additional topics included program manager regions, successes in certification, special operations, advanced training, Health & Wellness, and future outlooks.

Item #5, Recommendation by Bradley Wardle, Director, Utah Fire and Rescue Academy, of Matt Evans, Fire Chief with Washington City Fire, as a new Certification Council member. Motion to accept Chief Evans as a member of the Certification Council made by Joseph Decker. Motion seconded by Mike Owens. The motion passed. Chief Evans will take the place of Merlin Spendlove, who has retired. The Board expressed thanks to Mr. Spendlove for 16 years of service.

Item #6, Legislative update, Ted Black, Utah State Fire Marshal. Mr. Black reviewed the process of presenting the 2024 International Fire Code to the legislature for adoption. He will have a more thorough update on legislative items in January.

Item #7, Old Business: None

Item #8, New Business: None

Item #9, Mike Owens, Fire Marshal's Code Committee Chair, reviewed the 2024 International Fire Code.

Item #10, Fire Marshal Ted Black requests a motion that the Fire Prevention Board recommends to the Utah State Legislature approval of the 2024 International Fire Code with the Amendments as specified. Motion by Joseph Decker, seconded by Chris Kimball. Motion carried.

Item #11, Public Comment (limited to 2 minutes): None

Item #12, Approval by the Board to conduct the January 13, 2026, Fire Prevention Board meeting virtually. Motion made by Mike Owens and seconded by Chris Kimball. Motion carried.

Item #13, The next Board Meeting will be January 13, 2026, at 8:30 am, at the Utah State Fire Marshal’s office.

Meeting adjourned.

UTAH STATE FIRE PREVENTION BOARD

Meeting Minutes

January 13, 2026

PENDING APPROVAL

BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT

Coy Porter, Board Chair	Joey Mittelman
Chris Dawson, Vice Chair	Mike Owens
Coty Chadburn	Patrick Tomasino
Joseph Decker	Russ Young

BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT

Chris Kimball

Mike Leishman

Brett Ostler

Lloyd Evans

STAFF PRESENT

Ted Black, State Fire Marshal	Shane Cook	Sheri Stevens
Jon Ritchie, Chief Deputy Fire Marshal	Mike Young
Jana DeMille, Board Secretary

OTHERS

Members of the public and the fire service attended this meeting. The attendance log is kept with the full record of the meeting.

Item #1, Board meeting called to order by Board Chair Coy Porter. The meeting started at 8:30 A.M., over Google Meet and at the State Fire Marshal’s Office. Board Member Roll Call – quorum present.

Item #2, Approval of the November 18, 2025 board meeting minutes. Motion made by Russ Young to approve the minutes; seconded by Chris Dawson. Motion carries.

Item #3, Report to the Board by Chief Scott Spencer, Chair, Utah Fire Service Certification Council. Chief Spencer reviewed the last meeting of the Certification Council, highlighting challenges in "failed skills reports" for Fire Inspector and Officer 1. He noted a significant increase in testing volume, with 2,278 tests reviewed from July to September 2025 compared to 1,043 the previous year. Updates on accreditation due to NFPA changes and the popularity of "free Friday testing" were also discussed. Chief Spencer confirmed that IFSAC approved curriculum changes for Fire Investigator/Inspector.

Item #4, Report to the Board by Bradley Wardle, Director of Utah Fire and Rescue Academy. Mr. Wardle reported that UFRA passed its audit and received reaccreditation from IFSAC, with ProBoard reaccreditation expected soon. Assistant Director Marc McElreath updated the Board on the Officer 1 program, noting a shift to online testing and upcoming curriculum updates in February to form a 40-60 hour Fire Officer Academy. Assistant Director Jolene Chamberlain demonstrated a new UFRA portal designed to improve records management. Mr. Wardle also provided a Cancer Initiative update, noting that early screenings are successfully identifying cancer in asymptomatic individuals.

Item #5, Legislative update, Ted Black, Utah State Fire Marshal. Fire Marshal Black reported on upcoming legislation regarding the IBC, other building codes, and a Wildland Urban Interface code. The IFC will be run separately as usual. Other expected bills include ambulance service, retirement, and potentially portable solar panels.

Item #6, Old Business: None

Item #7, New Business: Chair Porter welcomed Keenan Price as the Attorney General for the Board, who provided training on open meeting procedures and closed meeting requirements. Fire Marshal Black reported that NFIRS will have a hard stop at the end of the month, with all departments transitioning to the NERIS reporting system.

Item #8, Public Comment (limited to 2 minutes): None

Item #9, Approval by the Board to conduct the March 10, 2026, Fire Prevention Board meeting virtually. Although the AG clarified that a vote for hybrid meetings is not strictly necessary if an anchor location is noted, a vote was held as it was listed on the agenda. Motion made by Chris Dawson; seconded by Joey Mittleman. Motion carries.

Item #10, Next Board Meeting is March 10, 2026, beginning 8:30 A.M., at Utah State Fire Marshal’s office, 410 W 9800 S, Suite #372, Sandy, Utah 84070.

Motion to adjourn - Russ Young.