State Fire Marshal - 801-284-6350
Ron L. Morris
Utah State Fire Marshal
Ron was born in Murray, Utah and has four sisters and one brother. He graduated from Murray High School in 1972, and is currently working on a Bachelors degree in Public Emergency Services Management from Utah Valley State College.
Ron was hired as a volunteer firefighter with Salt Lake County Fire Department in 1974. In August of 1977, he was hired as a full time firefighter with Salt Lake County Fire Department. In 1980, Ron attended paramedic school at Weber State College and graduated with his paramedic certification. He quickly moved up the ladder at Salt Lake County Fire being promoted to the ranks of Lieutenant, Captain, Battalion Chief, and finally appointed to the rank of Deputy Chief, where he served for eight years, before retiring in March 2005. As Deputy Chief, Ron had oversight over a $35 million budget, and the responsibility of the day-to-day operations of the 450 employee department. In his career he has supervised the Emergency Medical Services Bureau, Fire Prevention Bureau, Emergency Services Bureau, and the Special Operations Bureau which includes Hazmat, Heavy Rescue, Wildland, Urban Search and Rescue Team, Bomb Squad, and Arson Investigation. Ron served as the lead person for Salt Lake County Fire during the 2002 Winter Olympics, and he played an instrumental role in the transition of Salt lake County Fire to the Unified Fire Authority. Ron is a second generation firefighter. His father worked as a firefighter for Salt Lake County for thirty years.
Ron worked as a Flight Paramedic for AIRMED at the University of Utah for twelve years. He has also been actively involved in the automotive machine shop industry for thirty years.
Professional certifications include Emergency Medical Technician, Emergency Medical Technician Instructor, Paramedic, Fire Inspector, Fire Instructor, Apparatus Driver Operator, Fire Officer, and Hazmat. Ron has served as Chairman of the Bureau of Emergency Medical Services Grants Committee, President of the Greater Salt Lake Valley Fire Chiefs Association, and is a member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, Western States Fire Chiefs Association, Utah State Fire Chiefs Association, and the Utah State Fireman's Benefit Association.
Ron married his wife, Becky, in 1977, and they have three daughters. His hobbies are basketball, football, baseball, cars, and spending time with his family.