Command Staff

Information on the Los Pinos Fire Protection District's Command Staff.

Fire Chief Larry Behrens

Larry D. Behrens is the Chief of the Los Pinos Fire Protection District. He started his fire service career in 1990 as a volunteer with LPFPD, becoming the Assistant Chief in 1996 and accepted a career position as the Fire Marshal in 1999. He was appointed Fire Chief in 2001. Larry has attended Fort Lewis College in Durango and the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, MD. In 1977 he graduated from Mount Vernon Bible College in Mount Vernon, OH with a Bachelors Degree in Practical Theology and minored in Business Administration. Since his time with the district he has attended numerous courses and seminars on various aspects of the fire service. He has been a Colorado EMT-B since 2000.

Deputy Chief Tom Aurnhammer

Thomas W. Aurnhammer is Deputy Chief of the Los Pinos Fire Protection District. Chief Aurnhammer commenced his 33-year fire service career as a member of the Millburn (NJ) Fire Department and as an auxiliary member of the Newark (NJ) Fire Department. In 1980 he moved to Farmington, NM after accepting a position as a career firefighter. He has held the ranks of Firefighter, Fire Engineer, Fire Captain, Fire Marshal, and Fire Chief prior to his retirement from the FFD in 2003. Aurnhammer completed the National Fire Academy's Executive Fire Officer Program (EFO) in 1992, and graduated with honors from San Juan College in 1993 with an Associate Degree in Fire Protection. Tom received his Chief Fire Officer (CFO) designation from the Center for Public Safety Excellence’s Commission on Professional Credentialing in 2008. He is a certified Emergency Medical Technician (EMT-B), a Colorado Fire Officer III, as well as a Certified Fire Investigator through the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI-CFI®). Chief Aurnhammer is an Adjunct Faculty member at the National Fire Academy and the New Mexico Fire Fighter Academy. Aurnhammer has taught at numerous regional, state, and national programs and academic institutions and is widely published in the national trade periodicals in the areas of fire investigation, safety, and the executive management of fire departments. He also served on the National Fire Protection Association’s Technical Committee on Fire Investigations (NFPA 921) from 1990 until 1998. Aurnhammer holds memberships in the IAAI, IAFC, NFPA, the Society of Executive Fire Officers, Society of National Fire Academy Instructors, and the Board of Directors of the National Fire Academy Alumni Association. He was also granted the grade of Member in the Institution of Fire Engineers (MIFireE) in 2008.

Assistant Chief Danny Bean

Assistant Chief Danny Bean is an original member of the Los Pinos Fire Protection District. Prior to the formation of the district, Danny served with the Town of Ignacio Fire Department. Danny oversees the District's fleet and facilities maintenance program.

EMS Director Connie Ferguson

Connie Ferguson is the EMS Director for the Los Pinos Fire Protection District. She has been an EMT-Intermediate since 1987 and has worked in Emergency Medical Services with Southwest Memorial Hospital in Cortez, Mercy Medical Center in Durango, and the Ignacio Volunteer Emergency Squad. She became the Emergency Medical Services Director for the Ignacio Volunteer Emergency Squad in 1989, and has served in that role before and after the merger with the Fire District. Connie successfully completed an EMS Administrator Course through Chico State College in Chico, California in 1995.

Assistant Chief Bill Shank

William R. Shank is the Assistant Chief of Operations of the Los Pinos Fire Protection District. He started his fire service career in 1978 as a volunteer with the Hermosa Cliff Fire Protection District. In 1981, he was hired as a Minute Man with the City of Durango Fire Department as well as serving as a Senior EMT with the La Plata County Ambulance Service. In 1984, he accepted a position as a career firefighter with the City of Westminster Colorado Fire Department where he served until 1998. During his tenure with Westminster, he also worked as an EMS educator for various agencies in the Denver Metro area. In 1998, Bill returned to the Durango area when he accepted the Assistant Chiefs position with the Hermosa Cliff Fire Protection District and held that position until the consolidation with Animas Fire, City of Durango Fire and Mercy Paramedics where he was assigned as the Training Chief. He has held the ranks of Firefighter, Fire Paramedic, Lieutenant, Captain, Battalion Chief and Assistant Chief. Bill holds a number of Certificates from the State of Colorado including Fire Officer Three, Fire Instructor One, Primary EMS Instructor, as well as graduating form Red Rocks Community College in 1992 with an Associate Degree in Fire Science Technology. He has been a Colorado State Certified EMT since 1980, and graduated as Valedictorian of his paramedic class in 1988. Bill is currently an Executive Fire Officer Candidate at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

Special Assistant Jeff Dyar

Special Assistant Jeff Dyar is currently attached to the Office of the Deputy Chief and assists the District in a number of critical areas. Jeff is also the former EMS program chair at the National Fire Academy, and is the co-author of the textbook, Burnout to Balance: EMS Stress. He is also the author of the Brady textbook, Emergency Care, published in 2004. Jeff has facilitated training for police/fire/EMS workers across the United States.

Wildland Fire Coordinator David Vega

David Vega is the Wildland Fire Coordinator for the Los Pinos Fire District. David started his Fire Service career in 1999 as Seasonal Wildland Firefighter on the Pagosa Ranger District of the United States Forest Service (USFS), as well as serving as a volunteer firefighter with the Pagosa Fire Protection District. David has also worked as a part time Emergency Medical Technician with the Upper San Juan Hospital District from 1999-2002. In 2003 David received a permanent appointment with the USFS on the Safford Ranger District in Southern Arizona as a Lead Fire Prevention Technician. In 2004 David was promoted to Captain on a Type 6 Engine. Two years in Southern Arizona made him realize that Southwest Colorado wasn’t such a bad place to fight fire, and he accepted a job with the Los Pinos Fire District as Firefighter/Medic. In 2006 David left the LPFD and took a job as the Deputy Director of Emergency Operations for the Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office. David returned to the Los Pinos Fire District a year later as the Wildland Coordinator. David holds certifications as NWCG Engine Boss, Type 4 Incident Commander, Strike Team Leader (Trainee), Colorado EMT-B (IV), Firefighter 1 and Hazardous Materials Technician.