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Meet Our Advisory Committee
This month we continue our series of profiles on the members of the Fireman's Fund Heritage Advisory Committee, a distinguished group of fire service professionals who give us advice on our programs to support the fire service. Their insights and experience help guide our programs, while keeping us in tune with current and future firefighter needs and challenges.
Chief Larry D. Trujillo
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Chief Larry D. Trujillo, Denver Fire Department |
A 25-year veteran of the Denver Fire Department in Colorado, Trujillo became chief in 2003. In this role, Chief Trujillo is very active in initiatives to increase both the health and diversity of his department.
"Wellness is very near and dear to me," explains Trujillo. Trujillo's concern about health stems from the high incidence of heart disease among firefighters. His philosophy is as follows: "I want to hire people who are healthy, I want to have a program to keep them healthy, and I want them to retire healthy. I truly believe firefighters deserve that."
To that end, Trujillo has set up a non-profit organization called "Friends of Denver Fire Department" with some of the leading figures in the Denver community on its board. Through this organization, Trujillo has been able to pool financial resources from private donors, including individuals and even Fireman's Fund. Trujillo's latest plan is to have each and every member of his fire department get a heart scan which will give the department a baseline reading of cardiac health. Independent insurance agent IMA of Kansas directed a $50,000 grant from Fireman's Fund to help pay for the scans. Says Trujillo, "I'm so grateful to Fireman's Fund because it would never have happened without you."
Chief Trujillo is also committed to increasing diversity in the fire department of a city that's increasingly diverse itself. A member of the Mayor's Diversity Advisory Committee, Citizen Survey Committee, and the Firefighters Incorporated for Racial Equality (F.I.R.E), he feels that "The demographics of your department should reflect the demographics of your community."
For the last two years, Chief Trujillo has also advised the Fireman's Fund Heritage program, assisting us in our mission to support the nation's firefighters. His advice has been very helpful. One of his lessons is that health can be more important than equipment. "I love thermal imagers, but I don't want to send someone in to use it, if they don't have a healthy heart. The people at Fireman's Fund were so open to that discussion, it really impressed me."
Background
Chief Trujillo first entered the as a firefighter in 1982, leaving a job with a large oil company. With two older brothers in the Denver Fire Department, he saw how fulfilling the job was for them and wanted the same experience. Through over two decades of fire, rescue, and emergency medical services experience, he progressed through the ranks to chief of the department.
In the wake of 9/11, Mr. Trujillo assisted in raising over $2 million for the New York Firefighters Emergency Relief Fund.
Trujillo attended both the University of Northern Colorado and Metropolitan State College.
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Committee Members |
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The Heritage Advisory Committee consists of the following members:
 Ronny J. Coleman,
Former California
State Fire Marshal
Billy Goldfeder,
Deputy Chief,
Loveland-Symmes
Fire Department
Jeff Meston,
Chief, (Ret.)
Novato Fire
Protection District
Dennis Rubin,
Chief, Atlanta
Fire Department
Heather Schafer,
Executive Director,
National Volunteer
Fire Council
Ron Siarnicki,
Executive Director,
National Fallen
Firefighters
Foundation
Larry D. Trujillo,
Chief, Denver
Fire Department
Bruce Varner,
Chief, Santa Rosa
Fire Department
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