MEET THE CHIEF
Chief Marc Sanderson is a native of Pleasant Grove. His Father, Edward Sanderson, served one term as a city councilman and one term as the Mayor of Pleasant Grove. Chief Sanderson is married to Jessica Bullock, also of Pleasant Grove. They have 4 sons, Hayden, Holden, Logan, Landon.
In 1990 Chief Sanderson began his career in public safety with the Pleasant Grove Police Department. After three years he joined the Orem Police Department, where he was a decorated officer. However, it wasn’t long before he felt the draw of a slightly different service orientation - the fire service. He was already an excellent Police Officer, however, it was now time for a new challenge. After a few months of discussions with the Director of Public Safety in Orem, he was given the opportunity to transfer to the Fire Department. He entered the paramedic training program at Weber State University in 1998, soon after transferring from the Police Department. With an uncle, Mark Sanderson, a Plastic Surgeon, and a brother, Gary Sanderson, an Emergency Physician, Chief Sanderson soon began to show he possessed the same aptitude and talent for medicine as his Uncle and Brother. After graduating from the paramedic program and certifying with the State, he embarked on a new career path that is legendary. As a paramedic, Chief Sanderson established himself as an aggressive and highly skilled care giver.
In March, 2006 Chief Sanderson applied for a recently vacated position within the City of Pleasant Grove - the position of Fire Chief. He had been working full time with Orem Fire Department as a senior firefighter/paramedic and full time as a Fire Captain with Pleasant Grove Fire Department. Following a battery of competitive tests and after the smoked cleared, Marc Sanderson was appointed to the highly challenging, but rewarding position of Pleasant Grove City, Fire Department Chief.
Although, as the Pleasant Grove Fire Chief, he doesn’t have the responsibility or opportunity of being a first responder, it is not uncommon for him to respond to fire and medical emergencies. He remains a very knowledgeable and caring paramedic and along with utilizing those skills in the service of the citizens of Pleasant Grove he also uses them as a part time Flight Paramedic with IHC’s LifeFlight emergency medical helicopter service. Between his work as Fire Chief, his part time pursuits, and running ultra marathons (50 to 100+ miles), Chief Sanderson stays busy, but always approachable.
After becoming the Fire Chief, Chief Sanderson went to work ensuring that the expectations of service were met. He reorganized the Department and set a course that would ready the members of the fire department for emergency response and ensure the delivery of emergency services commensurate with the ilk and standard of a community of this caliber. He is a capable and talented leader. He has the respect of the members of the Fire Department as well as the public he serves. He truly has the “right stuff” and is the right person for the job. Through his able and effective leadership, the Pleasant Grove Fire Department continues to move forward and prepare to meet needs and the myriad challenges that our community’s future growth and development will pose.
By Dave Thomas, Deputy Fire Chief
Fire 