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 the Deputy Chief of the Los Pinos Fire Protection District. He started his fire service career in 1976 as a paid-on-call member of the Millburn (NJ) Fire Department, as well as becoming an auxiliary member of the Newark (NJ) Fire Department during the same period. In 1980 he moved to Farmington, New Mexico after accepting a position as a career firefighter. He has held the ranks of Firefighter, Fire Engineer, Captain, Fire Marshal, and retired in May of 2003 after serving 5 years as Chief of Department. He is also a member of the adjunct faculty at the New Mexico Firefighter Training Academy, as well as the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, MD. Tom has taught at numerous regional and state seminars, and many of his articles on various aspects of fire service management have been published in national trade journals. Tom completed the National Fire Academy's Executive Fire Officer Program in 1992, and graduated with honors from San Juan College in 1993 with an Associate Degree in Fire Protection. He has been a New Mexico EMT-B since 1980 and certified as a Colorado EMT-B in September of 2003. Tom received his Chief Fire Officer (CFO) designation from the Center for Public Safety Excellence’s Commission on Professional Credentialing, as well as his Colorado Fire Officer III certification in 2008. He is also a member of the Institution of Fire Engineers (MIFireE) - United States Branch.

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.