HILDALE, UT – In a ceremony filled with appreciation and community pride, the Utah Bureau of Medical Services presented the Hildale/Colorado City Fire Department with a distinguished award at the Hildale City Council Meeting on September 10. The honor recognizes the department as one of the most dedicated and highly trained volunteer fire and EMS departments in the state.
Hildale Mayor Jessop said, expressing her deep gratitude. “I am deeply grateful for our volunteer fire department and the incredible dedication they give our community,” Mayor Jessop said. “These brave men and women consistently go above and beyond the call of duty, responding to all hours with professionalism and compassion. What truly sets them apart is how genuinely they care for every single person they help, treating each emergency with the same urgency and heart, as if it were their own family. Their selfless service and unwavering commitment make our community safer and stronger every day.”
Chief Jesse Barlow, along with many members of the fire department, was present to accept the award on behalf of the team. The Utah Bureau of Medical Services’ commendation highlighted the department’s exceptional service, praising Chief Jesse Barlow for his “professionalism, vision, and an unwavering commitment to our community’s safety.” The statement noted that under his leadership, the department “continues to set the standard for excellence in rural emergency response.”
The recognition also paid tribute to former Chief Kevin Barlow, whose foundational leadership was instrumental in shaping the program. Chief Kevin Barlow was recently honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Rural EMS Directors Association of Utah, a testament to his decades of dedicated service.
The Bureau’s statement detailed what makes the Hildale/Colorado City Fire Department truly exceptional, pointing to several key factors:
Remarkable Paramedic Presence: The department boasts nearly 30 certified paramedics serving as volunteers, a number described as “virtually unheard of in rural areas, let alone in a community our size.”
Commitment to Training: The department’s personnel invest “countless hours of training, education, and certification” across all levels of service, including EMTs, Advanced EMTs, firefighters, and hazmat responders.
Teamwork and Compassion: A strong spirit of teamwork and compassion is evident in every emergency call they answer.
Beyond medical services, the department was also praised for its extensive training in fire suppression, hazmat response, flood rescue, and disaster preparedness, underscoring their readiness to handle any challenge.
The official statement concluded by expressing the community’s immense gratitude. “We are truly blessed to have such a remarkable group of professionals who willingly give their time, their skills — and sometimes, even risk their own safety — to protect Hildale and Colorado City,” it read. “On behalf of our entire community: thank you for your service, your sacrifice, and your unwavering dedication.”
