S.J.R. 10 Enrolled

RESOLUTION SUPPORTING FIREFIGHTER
MUSEUM AND MINING MUSEUM
1999 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Sponsor: R. Mont Evans
A JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE LEGISLATURE RECOGNIZING THE CONTRIBUTION OF
UTAH'S FIREFIGHTERS IN PRESERVING LIFE AND PROPERTY THROUGHOUT THE
HISTORY OF THE STATE; RECOGNIZING THE CONTRIBUTION OF KENNECOTT UTAH
COPPER TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND STRENGTH OF UTAH; AND
ENCOURAGING THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL, KENNECOTT UTAH COPPER, SALT
LAKE COUNTY, AND THE CITY OF SOUTH JORDAN TO WORK TOGETHER TO
CHOOSE AN APPROPRIATE SITE FOR A MUSEUM PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE STATE'S
FIREFIGHTERS AND KENNECOTT UTAH COPPER.
Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
WHEREAS, the establishment of a museum honoring career and volunteer firefighters in
Utah, combined with a recognition of the immense contribution of Kennecott Utah Copper to the
economic development and strength of Utah, is currently being considered;
WHEREAS, since the days of Utah's early settlements, the protection of life and property
has been possible because some citizens were willing to risk their lives to put out fires;
WHEREAS, as firefighters became better trained and more organized, firefighting became
an increasingly valued service, but one that remained mostly a volunteer effort;
WHEREAS, today, there are many career firefighters who share Utah's firefighting heritage
with volunteers, who make up nearly 85% of firefighters in the state;
WHEREAS, today firefighters are also trained in emergency medical services, the handling
of hazardous materials, and heavy and confined space rescues;
WHEREAS, the state's firefighting heritage is built on the service of brave, unselfish, and
largely unheralded men and women who stand in harm's way for their neighbors on each call for
help;
WHEREAS, national fatality figures indicate that firefighting ranks as one of the five most

dangerous occupations in the nation;
WHEREAS, in one national study, firefighting was found to be the second most stressful
occupation in the United States;
WHEREAS, it is fitting that these individuals receive recognition for their many years of
dedication and service under the most extreme circumstances;
WHEREAS, the 15 firefighters who have lost their lives in service since 1943, and those who
died before them, are heroes who merit respectful recognition and honor from the citizens of Utah;
WHEREAS, a memorial dedicated to firefighters who have lost their lives in service should
play an important part in the plans for the museum;
WHEREAS, in addition to firefighting, the mining history of Utah is filled with a richness
and success that once led President Abraham Lincoln to refer to Utah as a "treasurehouse of the
nation";
WHEREAS, without minerals and coal the soil could not be tilled, machines and computers
could not be built, energy could not be generated, and goods could not be transported;
WHEREAS, the mining industry has played a critical role in the economic development of
the state;
WHEREAS, for the past 152 years, miners in Utah have managed to mine, process, smelt or
refine 65 of the more than 90 mineral materials needed by modern society;
WHEREAS, local mining in the Price area led to the accelerated development of the railroad
in Utah;
WHEREAS, mining resources from Utah were a critical factor in World Wars I and II;
WHEREAS, today, mining continues to be a major factor in Utah's economy, providing
employment for 14,500 people directly and 40,000 additional jobs for supporting industries and
businesses;
WHEREAS, the coal fields of central Utah hold a rich source of high quality, low sulfur coal
that has been of great benefit to the state;
WHEREAS, Kennecott Utah Copper, which has mined more copper than any other mine in
the world, has produced 15 million tons of copper, 20 million ounces of gold, 175,000 ounces of

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silver, and 700 million pounds of molybdenum, with a cumulative monetary value exceeding the
value of the California, the Comstock, and Klondike gold strikes combined;
WHEREAS, minerals are literally society's building blocks, have transformed life at home
and in the workplace, and contribute to the protection of the environment;
WHEREAS, there is tremendous educational value in preserving the state's firefighting and
mining history for future generations; and
WHEREAS, the State Fire Marshal, Kennecott Utah Copper, Salt Lake County, and the City
of South Jordan have expressed interest in establishing a museum that pays tribute to firefighters and
the state's mining industry, and some potential sites on the west side of Salt Lake County have been
identified:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah recognize
the invaluable contribution that firefighters have made to the preservation of life and property, and
that Kennecott Utah Copper has made to the economic development and strength of the state.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature urge that representatives of the State Fire
Marshal, Kennecott Utah Copper, Salt Lake County, and the City of South Jordan get together to
determine a suitable location for a museum honoring Utah's firefighters and the state's mining legacy,
and request input from the Governor's Office.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the State Fire
Marshal, Kennecott Utah Copper, Salt Lake County, and the City of South Jordan.

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