The Salt Lake County Volunteer Fire Department, which in later years became a full-time operation, was organized November 21, 1921. Volunteers were paid $1.50 for the first hour in fighting a fire, and $1.00 for each hour thereafter. The County purchased its first ambulance in 1937, and in the 1970s added paramedics to its operations. In 2004, the Fire Department ceased operation as a County government entity and became the United Fire Authority (UFA), a quasi-governmental organization operating as a special fire district that included selected cities within the County, in addition to unincorporated areas.

Today the UFA serves over 375,000 residents in the cities of Alta, Cottonwood Heights, Draper, Herriman, Holladay, Riverton, Taylorsville and the unincorporated areas of Salt Lake County. Services provided include fire, emergency medical and other emergency services to Salt Lake County from 20 fire stations and three other facilities including the Salt Lake County Emergency Operations Center.