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New fire chief named in American Fork January 21, 2017, 3:37 pmSince September of 2000, Brems has worked for the city in both the fire and rescue department and in public works. He has served as the fire department training officer and has been a member of the Utah County Technical Rescue Team. He was promoted to captain in August of 2007. Regarding his appointment, Brems said, "I'm excited for this great opportunity to serve the city and the citizens of American Fork. We will be very proactive in the community, especially in fire prevention and inspections, to help increase awareness of fire safety." Brems replaces former chief Kriss Garcia who retired Jan. 1 after serving as fire chief for seven years. Prior to being hired as chief, Garcia worked for the Salt Lake City Fire Department and retired as a battalion chief after 26 years there. "For the last seven years I've been getting paid to do what I love most, taking care of firefighters," Garcia said prior to his retirement. "And in a world with real problems, I've been absurdly blessed." Regarding American Fork's firefighters, Garcia said, "For the last 38 years, I have worked with several hundred officers from around the U.S. and world, either as a supervisor, subordinate, instructor or student, and I have never met any more dedicated and capable than ours." Brems said the department will build on the legacy that Garcia has left behind. "We will continue to seek excellence through continuous training and teamwork ... and will always serve the public with the utmost respect and honesty," he said. Brems, who is an American Fork native, is married with five children. After high school, he attended Utah Valley University while playing baseball for the university. When not working, he is active in the community through sporting programs, especially baseball. The community news source for Eagle Mountain Utah, Saratoga Springs Utah, Lehi Utah, American Fork Utah, Highland Utah, Alpine Utah, and The Cedar Valley, including Cedar Fort Utah and Fairfield Utah. Copyright 2025 The Crossroads Journal LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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