SALT LAKE CITY — A captain with the Salt Lake City Fire Department has been charged with sexual abuse following allegations that he assaulted two students while working as an EMT instructor at a local community college.
Christopher David Burk, 41, has been charged with six counts of second-degree felony forcible sex abuse and one count of third-degree felony attempted forcible sexual abuse. The charges stem from incidents that allegedly took place while Burk was teaching an EMT course at a Salt Lake County community college.
According to court documents, Burk took advantage of his position as both a firefighter and instructor to sexually abuse his victims. The first report came in October 2024 when a student in the EMT program told Sandy City police that Burk invited her to stay after class to “review some things.” He allegedly took her to another classroom, where he assaulted her under the guise of teaching her how to perform assessments. In January 2025, a second student came forward, claiming she had been repeatedly targeted by Burk during her time in the EMT program. She described being singled out by him for demonstrations in class, during which Burk allegedly touched her inappropriately.
The student also stated that Burk invited her to a ride-along with the Salt Lake City Fire Department, where he attempted to isolate her in areas of the station. The abuse allegedly occurred during these private encounters. Both victims expressed fear of retaliation, concerned that reporting the incidents could negatively affect their education or future careers. In interviews with police, other EMT instructors confirmed that the “assessments” demonstrated by Burk were not part of the standard EMT training. In response to the charges, the Salt Lake City Fire Department released a statement confirming that Burk had been placed on administrative leave.
The department emphasized its commitment to a thorough and transparent investigation, underscoring that any behavior inconsistent with the department’s standards would be addressed swiftly. “We take any allegations of misconduct seriously and are dedicated to ensuring a thorough and transparent investigation process,” the department’s statement read. “The Salt Lake City Fire Department holds all members to the highest standards of conduct, both on and off duty.
Any behavior that does not align with these standards will be addressed swiftly and appropriately.” Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill also commented on the case, urging others in similar situations to come forward. “If you find yourself in an unsafe situation, I encourage you to report it to the authorities,” Gill said. “Your reports are essential to our prosecution. We can only prosecute offenses that are reported to law enforcement. If we cannot prosecute, we cannot hold individuals accountable for their actions.” Burk is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
As the investigation continues, both victims have been commended for their courage in reporting the incidents, despite the difficult circumstances they faced.
This case highlights the importance of maintaining safe environments in educational settings, especially when students are in vulnerable positions under the supervision of authority figures.