California Fire Foundation Forges Landmark Partnership for Comprehensive LODD Assistance

Groundbreaking agreement with National Fallen Firefighters Foundation creates California Last Alarm Service Teams

The California Fire Foundation has joined in a first-of-its-kind partnership with the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation to provide comprehensive support for local fire departments who lose one of their own in the line of duty.

The National Fallen Firefighter Foundation's Local Assistance State Team (L.A.S.T.) program provides departments and locals with a paid team of individuals who can assist with every aspect of a line-of-duty death funeral. Funding for this program is provided by the Department of Justice.

In a landmark memorandum of understanding, the California Fire Foundation has been designated as the exclusive administrator of this unique and comprehensive line-of-duty death assistance program for the state of California.

The program will be known as the California Last Alarm Service Teams (Cal-LAST).

In addition to being the first such agreement in the nation, the partnership also breaks new ground by extending support to locals for presumptive as well as traumatic LODDs. Presumptive cancer, heart disease, lung disease, and stroke are not recognized by the Department of Justice on a national level. However, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and the California Fire Foundation have agreed to treat presumptive line-of-duty deaths in the same fashion as traumatic line-of-duty deaths for this program in California.

"When a line-of-duty death occurs, it is difficult to think straight, let alone put on a firefighter funeral," said Lou Paulson, president of California Professional Firefighters and chair of the California Fire Foundation. "We want to help ensure that any fire department in California -- paid or volunteer -- has access to the resources they need during their difficult times. The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation has worked with us to modify their program to work for our state and we are very grateful for the resources this program will bring to our members and the entire California fire service."

Individual Cal-LAST teams will exist regionally thoughout the state and consist of a Behavioral Specialist, a Fire Service Survivor, an Honor Guard Commander, an Auxiliary and a Chaplain. Cal-LAST will be administered by the California Fire Foundation. Initial training will be conducted by representatives from the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, with ongoing training provided by the California Fire Foundation for the duration of the program.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE L.A.S.T. TEAMS.

The California Fire Foundation (www.cafirefoundation.org) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation supporting fallen firefighters, their families and the communities they serve.

The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (www.firehero.org) is a non-profit organization that offers programs to honor U.S. fallen firefighters and assists their families.