The Local Assistance State Team (LAST) Program is a collaborative effort between the Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. The Foundation realized that to best assist families and departments who had lost a firefighter in the line of duty – they needed to have trained personnel on the ground and available to help when requested, with a goal of within six hours of death. This could only be accomplished by developing a team of trained responders in each state who could be deployed immediately upon notification of a line-of-duty death. The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation began training personnel in these functions in October 2006 at the United States Fire Administration campus in Emmitsburg, Maryland, and has continued this training across the country wherever potential team members are available. Funds from the Department of Defense and Bureau of Justice Assistance grant make this vital program possible. No National Fallen Firefighters Foundation donation funds are used to perform any of the LAST functions.
These Local Assistance State Teams are made up of members who come from all areas of public safety, as well as survivors of line-of-duty deaths, and volunteers from all lines of work. They are all passionate about helping those who have suffered the loss of a family member or department member in the line of duty. The team coordinator has in-depth knowledge of their state and its fire service activities and designates backup positions to ensure that there is someone available should there be a line of duty death in their state. There are many specialty members on each team such as a honor guard commander, chaplain, Fire Hero Family member, logistics specialist and benefit specialist just to mention a few. In large states, teams will try to duplicate these specialties in different areas of the state in order to shorten response times to all areas of the state. Team deployment can be as few as one member to a complete activation of the team depending on what assistance is requested by the department that has lost a member.
What LAST Can Do
When a line-of-duty death is reported to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, the Coordinator of the Local Assistance State Team, in that state, is notified and they immediately make contact with the chief of the effected department or his/her designee and offer the assistance of the Local Assistance State Team. That assistance can include:
- Operational support to ensure the continuance of service to the community
- Any and all needed support to the family of the fallen firefighter
- Planning and coordination of funeral activities
- Assistance in obtaining behavioral health counseling for family and department members
- Preparation of local, state and federal benefit claims
While these teams may perform many important functions their primary responsibility, when requested, is to assist with the preparation and submission of the Public Safety Officers Benefit claim. The Local Assistance State Team will only assist after being requested and then will operate in a transparent manner behind the scenes to accomplish their tasks.
To report a LODD please call toll free at (866)736-5868.
Find Your State Contact(s)
Alabama
24hr. Emergency Contact – (800) 392-5679
C. Reid Vaughan, Planning Officer
Alabama Fire College
Phone: (205) 499-6905
E-mail: [email protected]
John James, Regional Training Center Coordinator
Alabama Fire College
Phone: (256) 810-8795
E-mail: [email protected]
Alaska
Assistant Chief Steve Crouch
Phone: (907) 415-1650
E-mail: [email protected]
Arizona
Mike Thomas
Golder Ranch Fire District
Cell: (520) 306-0287
E-mail: [email protected]
Joe Kelley – Northern Team Lead
Central Arizona Fire and Medical (Retired)
Cell: (928) 848-3130
E-mail: [email protected]
Michael “Elvis” Castillo – Central Team Lead
Mesa Fire and Medical Department
Cell: (480) 678-1978
E-mail: [email protected]
Arkansas
Larry Brewer
Arkansas Fallen Firefighters Memorial
Phone: (501) 329-4199
Cell: (501) 328-7204 (cell service bad at home)
E-mail: [email protected]
Jackie Warren
Arkansas Fallen Firefighters Memorial
Cell: (501) 744-2907
E-mail: [email protected]
California
Rick Martinez
California Fire Foundation
Office: (916) 921-9111
E-mail: [email protected]
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.cafirefoundation.org
Joslyn Beile
California Fire Foundation
Office: (916) 921-9111
E-mail: [email protected]
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.cafirefoundation.org
Colorado
Rachel Nelson
Phone: (720) 819-7223
E-mail: [email protected]
Bert Brooks
Phone: (303) 356-3742
E-mail: [email protected]
Connecticut
Hal Grout (Primary Contact)
East Hartford Fire Department (Retired)
Phone: (860) 214-1092
E-mail: [email protected]
Matthew Braunshweiger
East Hartford Fire Department (Retired)
Phone: (860) 539-0365
E-mail: [email protected]
Chief Nick DeLia
City of Groton Fire Department
Phone: (860) 625-3106
E-mail: [email protected]
Jeff Morrissette
Connecticut Fire Academy
Phone: (860) 627-6363 x230 (24 Hours)
Delaware
Chaplain Charlie Arnold
Delaware State Chiefs
Phone: (302) 542-9783
E-mail: [email protected]
Dennis Carradin
Delaware Volunteer Fireman’s Association
Phone: (302) 275-7825
E-mail: [email protected]
District of Columbia
State Team Information Pending
For information on Local Assistance State Teams available near you please E-mail Ian Bennett.
For immediate assistance or to report a line-of-duty death call (866) 736-5868.
Florida
Doug Swartz
National Honor Guard Academy
Cell: (727) 487-3973
E-mail: [email protected]
Georgia
Dennis Thayer
Georgia Fallen Firefighters Foundation, Inc.
Cell: (678) 787-2635
E-mail: [email protected]
Hawaii
State Team Information Pending
For information on Local Assistance State Teams available near you please E-mail Ian Bennett.
For immediate assistance or to report a line-of-duty death call (866) 736-5868.
Idaho
Brad Van Ert
Cell: (949) 547-2038
E-mail: [email protected]
Illinois
Chief Joe Holomy (Retired)
Cell: (815) 405-2051
E-mail: [email protected]
Indiana
Eric Johnson
Indiana Fire & Emergency Services Memorial Team
Office: (502) 585-2282
Cell: (502) 643-2677
Home: (502) 365-1559
E-mail: [email protected]
Iowa
Fire Chief/Inspector Roger Bissen
City of Harlan Fire Department
Work: (712) 755-5354
Cell: (712) 579-8548
E-mail: [email protected]
Kansas
Tanner Burenheide
Phone: (620) 412-3025
E-mail: [email protected]
Ron Ewing
Phone: (620) 366-5399
E-mail: [email protected]
Kentucky
Jeremy Rogers
Kentucky Fire Commission
Phone: (859) 608-7575
E-mail: [email protected]
Kyle Smith
Phone: (270) 853-6001
E-mail: [email protected]
Louisiana
Dwayne Thevis
Louisiana State Firemen’s Association
Phone: (337) 580-2510
E-mail: [email protected]
Maine
Mike Robitaille, Chief
Yarmouth Fire-Rescue
Station: (207) 846-2410
Cell: (207) 240-9410
Fax: (207) 846-2447
E-mail: [email protected]
Nate Schools
Buxton Fire-Rescue
Phone: (207) 572-2418
E-mail: [email protected]
Darren Woods
North Lakes Fire and Rescue
Phone: (207) 493-4328
E-mail: [email protected]
Dave Groder
Augusta Fire Rescue
Phone: (207) 626-2421
E-mail: [email protected]
Maryland
Division Chief Michael Pfaltzgraff
Anne Arundel County Fire Department
Cell: (443) 336-0067
E-mail: [email protected]
Massachusetts
Deputy Chief Alan Manley
Text and Cell: (508) 264-1686
Home: (508) 636-4000
E-mail: [email protected]
Michigan
Steven Richardson, Past President
Michigan State Firemen’s Association
Mobile: (989) 590-2085
Office: (800) 445-3844
E-mail: [email protected]
Jim Rose, Past President
Michigan State Firemen’s Association
Office: (800) 445-3844
Mobile: (906) 282-1223
E-mail: [email protected]
Minnesota
Jay Wood
Minnesota Fire Service Foundation
Cell: (651) 755-5037
E-mail: [email protected]
Crawford Wiestling, Everyone Goes Home® Advocate
Minnesota Fire Service Foundation
Cell: (612) 867-7993
E-mail: [email protected]
Mississippi
Craig Woodard
Southaven Fire Department
Cell: (901) 581-0611
E-mail: [email protected] (Home) [email protected] (Work)
Allan Cunningham
Phone: (901) 277-0957
E-mail: [email protected]
Missouri
Brian Zinanni
Missouri Firefighter Funeral Assistance Team
1-888-4911HELP (Ask for Funeral Team)
Phone: (314) 973-0685
E-mail: [email protected]
Zach Jones
Salisbury Fire Department
Missouri Firefighter Funeral Assistance Team
1-888-4911HELP (Ask for Funeral Team)
Phone: (660) 414-5835
E-mail: [email protected]
Montana
Assistant Chief Kevin Strickler
Belgrade/Central Valley Fire District
Phone: (406) 388-4480
E-mail: [email protected]
Nebraska
JR Christiansen
Phone: (402) 618-7000
E-mail: [email protected]
Karla Houfek
NE Serious Injury & Line of Duty Death Response Team
Phone: (402) 499-1773
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.neresponseteam.org
Nevada
State Team Information Pending
For information on Local Assistance State Teams available near you please E-mail Ian Bennett.
For immediate assistance or to report a line-of-duty death call (866) 736-5868.
New Hampshire
Chief Frank Fraitzl
New Boston Fire Department
Office: (603) 487-2500 x310
Cell: (603) 722-1990
E-mail: [email protected]
Chief Jon Goldman
Lakes Region Mutual Fire Aid
Office: (603) 528-9111
Cell: (603) 770-6920
E-mail: [email protected]
Chief Mark Klose (Retired)
Cell: (603) 396-0270
E-mail: [email protected]
New Jersey
Greg W. Collier, Battalion Fire Chief
L.A.S.T. Coordinator, New Jersey Local Assistance State Team
“Supporting New Jersey’s Fire Service Survivors”
Phone: (202) 642-3605
Cell: (609) 743-3630
E-mail: [email protected]
For immediate assistance or to report a line-of-duty death call (866) 736-5868.
New Mexico
Greg Perez
Bernalillo County Fire Department
Cell: (505) 977-4834
E-mail: [email protected]
Gary Chavez
Bernalillo County Fire & Rescue
Phone: (505) 480-5948
E-mail: [email protected]
New York
State of New York
Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services
Office of Fire Prevention and Control
Fire Operations and Training Branch
www.dhses.ny.gov/ofpc
Headquarters (518) 474-6746 (24-hour notification)
Brian Benstead
E-mail: [email protected]
Shawn Brimhall
E-mail: [email protected]
North Carolina
Mike Williams
North Carolina Department of Insurance/Office of the State Fire Marshal
Phone: (919) 368-0643
E-mail: [email protected]
Deral Raynor
North Carolina Department of Insurance/Office of the State Fire Marshal
Phone: 919-538-5696
E-mail: [email protected]
For immediate assistance or to report a line-of-duty death call (919) 647-0000 or 1 (800) 634-7854 (NC Only)
North Dakota
Curtis Freeman
Dickinson Fire Department
Cell: (701) 260-2294
E-mail: [email protected]
Brandon Exner
Phone: (701) 351-5540
E-mail: [email protected]
Ohio
Jack Guyton
Concord Township Fire Department
Delaware County
Cell: (614) 332-2484
E-mail: [email protected]
Oklahoma
Sheri Nickel
Oklahoma State Firefighters Association
Office: (405) 424-1452
Cell: (580) 554-7123
E-mail: [email protected]
Madelyn Roth
Oklahoma State Firefighters Association
Office: (405)424-1452
E-mail: [email protected]
Oregon
Tom McGowan, Battalion Chief/Paramedic
Medford Fire Rescue
Office: (541) 774-2305
Cell: (541) 659-7397
HQ: (541) 774-2400
E-mail: [email protected]
Pennsylvania
Douglas Snyder
Eastern Area Field Supervisor
E-mail: [email protected]
Mark Wineland
Western Area Field Supervisor
E-mail: [email protected]
To report a line-of-duty death call the Pennsylvania State Emergency Operations Center (24 Hours) at 1 (800) 424-7362.
Rhode Island
Chief Robert Bradley
Rhode Island LAST
Cell: (401) 406-1931
E-mail: [email protected]
Chief Mike Gingell
Harrisville Fire Department
Cell: (401) 692-7267
E-mail: [email protected]
Assistant Chief Chris Koretski
Watch Hill Fire Department
Cell: (401) 258-4969
E-mail: [email protected]
South Carolina
Ashley Boltin
South Carolina State Firefighters’ Association
Cell: (803) 960-7935
Work: (803) 454-1805
Home: (803) 732-6873
E-mail: [email protected]
South Dakota
Casey Warren
Personal Cell: (605) 390-2619
Personal E-mail: [email protected]
Doug Hinkle
Chief Deputy Fire Marshal
Office: (605) 773-3417
Cell: (605) 280-5864
E-mail: [email protected]
Tennessee
Executive Director Paul Trumpore
Tennessee Federation of Fire Chaplains
E-mail: [email protected]
For immediate assistance or to report a line-of-duty death call (866) 736-5868.
Texas
Ms. Wendy Norris
Texas LODD Task Force
E-mail: [email protected]
For immediate assistance or to report a line-of-duty death call (832) 757-1499.
Utah
Brad Wilkes
Layton Fire Department
Utah State Fire Chiefs Association
Cell: (801) 807-8822
Work: (801) 336-3940
Home: (801) 771-4332
E-mail: [email protected]
Vermont
Robert Kilpeck, Past President
Vermont State Firefighters Association
Cell: (802) 342-0369
E-mail: [email protected]
Virginia
Division Chief Steve Poff
Roanoke County Fire & Rescue (Retired)
Cell: (540) 525-9561
E-mail: [email protected]
Chief Steve Kopczynski
York County Department of Fire & Life Safety
Phone: (757) 897-1881
E-mail: [email protected]
Washington
Chaplain Pat Ellis
Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority
Cell: (206) 372-2663
Work: (253) 856-5826
E-mail: [email protected]
Division Chief Pat Pawlak
Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority
Cell: (206) 949-3039
Office: (253) 856-4405
E-mail: [email protected]
West Virginia
Mark Stewart
West Virginia Assistant State Fire Marshal
Phone: (304) 550-3367
E-mail: [email protected]
Allan D. Casto
Phone: (304) 541-5127
E-mail: [email protected]
Wisconsin
Chief Steve Schreiber
Black River Falls Fire Department (Retired)
Phone: (715) 896-0277
E-mail: [email protected]
Wyoming
Fire Chief Dan Johnson
Laramie Fire Department
Phone: (307) 760-6129
E-mail: [email protected]
Scott Kitchner
Sweetwater County Fire District #1
Phone: (307) 389-5671
E-mail: [email protected]