Sara Rowley
Sara Rowley is a dedicated firefighter and Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) serving with the West Valley City Fire Department in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area. Known for her resilience, adaptability, and strong commitment to her team and community, she plays a critical role in emergency response—ranging from high-pressure medical calls to fire suppression and public safety support. Currently advancing her expertise, Sara is enrolled in paramedic school, continuing to build on her hands-on experience and certifications in trauma care, hazardous materials operations, and advanced life support.
Sara’s path into the fire service began with an early interest in medical forensics, working with the Utah Office of the Medical Examiner while still in high school. There, she gained valuable experience assisting with autopsies, evidence documentation, and specimen collection, which laid a strong foundation for her understanding of medicine and emergency response. Her transition into firefighting was sparked during her EMT training, where mentors recognized her potential and encouraged her to pursue the field. After completing a rigorous fire academy and probationary period, she officially joined the department, earning recognition for her determination and positive outlook, including the department’s Courageous Firefighter Award.
Throughout her career, Sara has developed a reputation for her ability to perform under pressure and collaborate effectively on diverse emergency scenes. Her experience spans emergency room care at a Level 1 Trauma Center, laboratory diagnostics, and law enforcement exposure through a police department internship. She approaches her work with a “jack-of-all-trades” mindset, valuing teamwork and the ability to adapt quickly to any situation. Driven by a genuine desire to help others, Sara continues to grow as a first responder, focused on delivering compassionate, skilled care while supporting both her crew and the community she serves.
• Hazmat Operations
• Prehospital Trauma Life Support
• Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support
• Firefighter II
• Firefighter I
• Basic Life Support for Healthcare and Public Safety
• Advanced Emergency Medical Technician
• Basic Life Support
• Salt Lake Community College- A.S.
• Utah Valley University
• 2024 Courage Award from West Valley City Fire Department (awarded 2026)
• Firefighter Union (West Valley City Fire Department)
• Burn Camp (Utah Burn Center)
• Burn Camp Chili Kickoff
• Burn Camp 5K
• Gracie Barra Association
• First Lego League
• Camp Fury
• West Valley City Fire Department - Administration
What do you attribute your success to?
I would say I just put in a lot of time, honestly. When I was in Fire Academy, we would go during the days, and then on my weekends, I was showing up to my training grounds to practice those skills. I would do turnout drills at home all the time, and even since I've been out of Fire Academy, I've been showing up on weekends to work on skills and going to different trainings. I went to Winter Fire School in 2025, which was super fun. All of these learning opportunities aren't necessarily required, and you don't get anything for doing them other than just the experience, but I really like that type of learning opportunity, so I'm happy to put in the time doing that. My ability to put in the work and train outside of hours to make sure that despite being at a disadvantage as a woman in this field, I'm still able to show up as professionally as possible has been something I've been noted for. Just having a good heart and good spirit in order to persevere, even when things are hard or when you're at a disadvantage, is what's helped me succeed.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
One of the things that was told to me by my mentor that has always really stuck with me is that being a woman in the fire service, we tend to have kind of a microscope looking at us. When you mess up, which everybody does because it's a career where you're constantly learning something new every day, people tend to notice it more. But on the same side of that, when you are a woman in the fire service and when you do well and when you shine, you shine really bright. That's something I've taken to heart. I know that as far as being on the fire ground goes, I may not be able to pull as much hose or carry as much weight as some of my male counterparts can. However, I know that I do really well on medical scenes, so I use that to my advantage and just make sure that I'm the most useful asset I can be in that area.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Being a woman in the fire service, we tend to have kind of a microscope looking at us. When you mess up, which everybody does because it's a career where you're constantly learning something new every day, people tend to notice it more. But on the same side of that, when you are a woman in the fire service and when you do well and when you shine, you shine really bright. I know that as far as being on the fire ground goes, I may not be able to pull as much hose or carry as much weight as some of my male counterparts can. However, I know that I do really well on medical scenes, so take that and use it to your advantage. Make sure that you're the most useful asset you can be in your area of strength. Put in the time - show up on weekends to practice skills, do trainings that aren't required, and train outside of hours to make sure that despite any setbacks or disadvantages, you're still able to show up as professionally as possible. Just have a good heart and good spirit in order to persevere, even when things are hard.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Some of the biggest challenges in the fire service today include overcoming gender-based barriers, meeting intense physical demands, and navigating heightened scrutiny, while key opportunities lie in building strong networks, pursuing specialized training, and engaging more deeply with the community to broaden impact.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Perseverance.I just put in a lot of time, honestly... I was showing up on weekends to practice those skills... all of these learning opportunities, they're not necessarily required but I'm happy to put in the time doing that.ability to put in the work and then train outside of hours to make sure that despite that kind of setback, I'm still able to show up as professionally as possible... just having a good heart and good spirit in order to persevere, even when things are hard."