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Fire Service Resources

Local Assistance State Team

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: 

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.

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

Rachael Nelson
Phone: (720) 490-6227
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]

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

Steve Garner
Paulding County Fire Rescue
E-mail: [email protected]
Cell: 770-652-0421

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]

Jim Klinefelter
Fire Chief
Shannon Fire Protection District
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: (815) 761-6202

Caitlyn Brennan
Chief Executive Officer
100 Club of Illinois
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: (708) 507-4654

Deputy Chief Frank Velez
Chicago Fire Department
E-mail: [email protected]

Lisanne Vaci
Clinical Therapist
Chicago Fire Department
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: (312) 485-5026

Indiana

Eric Johnson
Supporting Heroes Memorial Team
Office: (502) 585-2282
Cell: (502) 643-2677
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

Andy Bezenah
RAFT (Regional Alliance for Firefighter Training)
E-mail: [email protected]
Cell: 248-521-5453

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

Rachel Kohlman
President, NE Serious Injury & Line of Duty Death Response Team
Phone: (402) 340-8141
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]
Headquarters (518) 474-6746 (24 hour notification)

Rachel Ford
E-mail:  [email protected]
Headquarters (518) 474-6746 (24 hour notification)

North Carolina

Mike Williams
North Carolina Office of the State Fire Marshal
Phone: (919) 368-0643
E-mail: [email protected]

Deral Raynor
North Carolina 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, Division Chief
Ashland Fire Rescue
Office: (541) 552-2232
Cell: (541) 659-7397
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]
Phone: (865) 805-2890

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

Chief Michael Fox
Salt Lake City Fire Department
E-mail:[email protected]
Phone:(801) 231-8933

Chief Robert Stafford
Salt Lake City Fire Department
E-mail:
[email protected]
Phone: (801) 209-3636

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) 856-4426
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]

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]