At the February 17 Kaysville City Council meeting, Fire Chief Paul Erickson presented the “2021 Firefighter of the Year Award” to Christopher Montgomery. He explained this award is presented each year and recipients of the award are nominated by their peers (city employees serve as great judges). He said there were so many good firefighters working for Kaysville.

Firefighter Montgomery was hired full time at the Kaysville Fire Department in December 2020. He previously worked part time for the city and also worked for Roy City. He had been a paramedic for a few years and then took the initiative to get Kaysville’s paramedic program started without even being asked. He has oversight of the training and documentation program, has taken the initiative to pass out information and documentation, oversees the drug program, and other program facets that need to be managed. As a result, in 2022 the paramedic program is going strong and working well for the department and citizens. 

Montgomery has become an asset to not just the department, but to the city. Recently, the Fire Department was dispatched to the Kaysville Ponds where a dog had fallen through the ice, and Firefighter Montgomery was able to successfully save the dog from the water. His crew also recently responded to a childbirth on a residence call, and they arrived just in time to help deliver the baby. As a result, Montgomery signed the birth certificate because he actually delivered the baby!

Montgomery said he is “not one for speeches.” He said he was lucky enough to have great support at home and his upbringing was top-of-the-line. His parents Larry and Diane instilled strong values and a good work ethic from early on. He said he comes to work and gives his all and has great support from his wife when he gets home. He said the program was a lot of work but wasn’t without a lot of help and he thanked Chief Erickson for empowering him to take the reigns and get moving. 

Montgomery said there have been others who have helped and whom he has bounced ideas off, and the award should have everyone’s name on it because they all worked as a team and played a part.

The Mayor and City Council honored Firefighter Christopher Montgomery with a round of applause and an award. l