On July 30, Ryan McConaghie was sworn in as Sandy City’s newest fire chief following the retirement of Fire Chief Bruce Cline.

McConaghie has been with the Sandy Fire Department for nearly 23 years and has steadily risen through the ranks since he first started as a firefighter and served most recently in the deputy chief position for the past 5.5 years.

The City Journals conducted a Q&A of five questions for residents to get to know the city’s new fire chief more:

1. What inspired you to pursue a career in firefighting?

“I was drawn to the excitement of responding to emergencies and helping others in need. It is very rewarding to feel that you have fixed a problem and made a difference. I recognize the trust that the citizens extend to us as a fire department. I take that trust seriously and aim to always be ready to respond to emergencies in Sandy City.

“The experiences that I have had over the years have helped me recognize the importance of preparation. My goal is to keep our personnel trained to the highest level, keep our equipment and apparatus up to date and in good repair, and to use the latest technology and tools in the Sandy Fire Department response plan.”

2. What is your vision for the fire department over the next few years?

“My vision for the Sandy Fire Department is to continue to build a department that represents our mission statement and values. Our mission as a department is to prevent, mitigate and respond. Our values outline the qualities that we seek in our personnel and hiring practices. Our personnel have always been our most valued asset, and we have been fortunate to be able to employ such a high-caliber group of employees.

“Moving forward, my intention is to continue building and preparing for the future. The new Fire Station 31 project is another step in that process. Completion for that station is scheduled for the fall of 2025. We have also recently completed a strategic planning process and will be looking at additional needs in the areas of capital improvements, equipment and apparatus, and staffing for adequate response.”

3. What challenges do you foresee for the fire department and how do you intend to address them?

“Funding is always a challenge. It is very expensive to run and outfit a modern fire service—the same can be said about the police department. We continually try to find ways through grants and other supplemental income to lessen the impact of taxes needed to fund these core services.

“Another challenge and concern is the wildland-urban interface that we have in Sandy. With the Dimple Dell Park and areas around the Wasatch Boulevard corridor, we face a continual threat of wildland fires. Our Wildland Division works throughout the year to mitigate and prepare for this threat. We train continuously and have been building up our equipment and resources to be ready. We have also been working to thin out the overgrowth in several areas throughout the park to lessen the impact in the event of a fire.”

4. How can community members support the fire department and contribute to safety efforts in the area?

“I am so impressed with the community and citizens of Sandy—I often reflect on how grateful I am to have spent my career [here].

“I have had the opportunity to meet many of the residents through the numerous public events in the city. I also meet residents as they participate in the prevention classes that we provide, such as: First Aid, CPR and AED, Community Emergency Response Training (CERT), fire extinguisher training, Babysitting Academy and Junior First Responder Academy. I welcome all who are interested in learning more about these programs to reach out to the fire department for more information.”

5. What does your life look like outside of work, what are your favorite things to do?

“I like to stay busy in my time off. I stay active and enjoy mountain biking and road cycling. I also enjoy spending time and traveling with my kids and family. I have had several opportunities to travel on humanitarian deployments to Africa, Nepal and Bolivia to help build several projects of need. I have taken my children on a couple of them and value the time and education that has come from those trips.” λ