Los Angeles City Firefighters Association (LAFFA) had been the local representative to the California State Firefighters Association (CSFA) for over 98 years. Participation included attending the annual conference, and having members on the CSFA Board to provide input into the needs of our membership and shape the California fire service.
Additionally, LAFFA has honored our own firefighters for over 50 years by hosting the “Annual Firefighter of The Year” luncheon that recogonizes members that have gone above and beyond the call of duty for our members.
Lastly, LAFD rank and LAFFA continues to focus on the safety, training and education and other needs of our members.
Monthly membership meetings are held on the first payday of each month via Zoom meetings (Covid-19 social distancing) or at the Los Angeles Police Academy Cafe when in-person meetings resume. Breakfast is provided for those who attend in person.
Please call 1(833)522-3321 for further information on the association.
The LAFD Chaplains and the LAFRA Family Support Group are an integral part of the way the LAFD takes care of its own. Congratulations to this group on this well-deserved recognition! 👏👏👏LAFD HONORS CHAPLAINS AND FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP
Nov 3, 2026 ·
The people who show up for LAFD families on their hardest days were recognized by the Board of Fire Commissioners, and none of them saw it coming.
When a firefighter is hurt, or a family gets the call no one ever wants to receive, two groups are there. They don't seek attention or keep score. They just show up, over and over.
At a recent meeting of the Board of Fire Commissioners, Chief of Staff Kairi Brown honored both: the LAFD Chaplain Corps and the Family Support Group of the Los Angeles Firemen's Relief Association.
Neither group knew the day was about them. Brown asked the Chaplains to attend in support of the Family Support Group, and asked the Family Support Group to attend in support of the Chaplains. "I knew they would never want to be recognized," she said, "so I had to trick them."
The recognition comes in a year of profound loss for the Department. Time and again, these members have shown up to support families and bring calm to the hardest moments.
THE MINISTRY OF PRESENCE
The LAFD Chaplain Corps has served the Department since 1941. Every Chaplain is a current or former LAFD member who has worn the uniform. Each is vetted, approved by the Fire Chief, endorsed by their own faith community, and appointed by the Commission. Training takes up to a year.
Chaplains go wherever a member or family needs them: homes, work locations, hospitals. They serve as family liaisons at the IAFF Fallen Firefighter Memorial in Colorado Springs and the California Firefighters Memorial in Sacramento, and they emcee the LAFD Firefighter Memorial at Fire Station 27 each year.
Their care reaches beyond the Department. In September, after a helicopter crashed in Chatsworth, Councilmember John Lee asked the Chaplains to support the community vigil. They showed up for people they had never met.
"A Chaplain doesn't always have the right words, and they don't have to," Brown said. "Sometimes simply being there is what matters most. They call it the ministry of presence."
The Chaplains recognized were active members Captain Kevin Smith, Captain Daniel Lee and Firefighter Daniel Nakamura, along with retired members Engineer George Negrete, Captain Jesus Pasos and Apparatus Operator Daniel Leon, who continue to serve members and the families of the fallen.
A LIFELINE BUILT FROM LOSS
The Family Support Group is led by two women who know firsthand the worst day a fire family can face. Heidi Perez lost her husband, Firefighter Paramedic Jose Perez. Kate Munoz lost her husband, Firefighter III Henry Munoz.
They could have stepped away to grieve in private. Instead, they turned toward other families. The group was founded in 2018 in partnership with the Chaplains, and the two have been connected ever since.
When a family loses a firefighter, the first days are a blur of notifications, visitors and funeral arrangements. Then come pensions, life insurance, benefits, forms and deadlines. Perez and Munoz sit down with each family and walk them through every step.
The help continues long after the funeral. Through retreats and outings, the group helps families cope, take on new responsibilities and find one another.
"Anyone can read a checklist," Brown said. "Heidi and Kate bring something no checklist can. They have lived it. When they say 'I understand,' the family knows it is true."
FIRST TO ARRIVE, LAST TO LEAVE
Brown closed by speaking directly to the honorees. "When the worst day comes for one of our families, you are the first to arrive and the last to leave," she said. "You ask for nothing. Today, we get to give a little back."
Fire Chief Moore presented certificates of recognition to each Chaplain, and to Heidi Perez and Kate Munoz, on behalf of the Department and the entire LAFD family.
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Wonderful tribute to our fallen brother, Captain II Christopher Yokoyama. He left behind a legacy of courage and leadership that will never forget.
In Memoriam: Christopher P. Yokoyama (1979-2026)
www.lafra.org
Christopher Paul Yokoyama was born on August 22, 1979, in Long Beach, California, and passed away on July 6, 2026, in Wyoming at the age of 46.0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Hats off to our Department and our brothers and sisters in service.
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Be safe this Halloween! Our friends at California Casualty give us some helpful prep tips to make the most of what should be a fun weekend for you and your family. 🎃
The Real-Life Halloween Porch Tour
www.calcas.com
Make your Halloween a treat for everyone with simple safety tips for trick-or-treaters, pets and visitors, from your front porch to your neighborhood.0 CommentsComment on Facebook
There's no party like at 101st Anniversary Party!Join us Oct. 24 for a lunch celebration of Los Angeles Fire Department Ralph J. Scott Old Fireboat 2's 101st Anniversary. We'll also honor our Harbor-area first responders including Los Angeles Port Police, LAPD Maritime Division, CERT, CRT, recognize our Boys & Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor students and celebrate with the incredible LA Waterfront community that has kept the Ralph J. Scott’s story alive for generations!
Saturday, October 24
11:00 AM–1:00 PM
In front of LAFD Fire Station 112
444 S. Harbor Blvd., San Pedro CA
Special thank you to Port of Los Angeles and also to Councilmember Tim McOsker, Supervisor Janice Hahn, Assemblymember Mike A. Gipson, CA State Senator Laura Richardson and our friends at San Pedro Chamber of Commerce.
#RalphJScott #OldFireboat2 #LAFD #lafdsouthbureau #lafd112 #LAFDMuseum #portofla #LAWaterfront #SanPedro #LAHarbor #FirstResponders #BoysAndGirlsClub #FireboatHistory #Community #LAPD #LAFDCERT #mayorscrt
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Strong work, 86s! That little girl is alive because of their training and hard work and we are very proud of that.
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The LAFD welcomed the Helpful Honda team to Fire Station 84 for a special presentation to retired Fire Captain Derek Vehling and his family.
Derek suffered a spinal cord injury more than a decade ago and later retired on a disability pension. Three of his children—Emilie, Brodie, and Maggie Mae—also live with a rare genetic condition known as Spinal Muscular Atrophy with Progressive Myoclonic Epilepsy (SMA-PME).
The Helpful Honda team, with assistance from the Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association, presented the Vehling family with three wheelchairs: two electric wheelchairs and one designed for the beach.
We’re grateful to everyone who helped make this possible and for the support shown to Derek and his family. This is a great example of people coming together to make a meaningful difference.
Thank you to Helpful Honda and the Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association for their generosity and support!
#LAFD #HelpfulHonda #CommunitySupport #FireFamily
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We're proud to support this event each year, which benefits Widows Orphans & Disabled Firefighter's Fund. Come on out and play a round, firefighter golf rates are available!
www.lafra.org
Monday, November 16, 2026 Porter Valley Country Club 19216 Singing Hills Dr, Northridge, CA 91326 Special Firefighter Rate – $250 *Limited Availability – Deadline to register – Monday, October 2...0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Get your thinking caps on! We want your nomination for the 2026 LAFD Firefighter of the Year! Learn how to submit a nomination: bit.ly/4yP3ny6
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Beautiful scene at the LAFD Fallen Firefighters Memorial Ceremony at Old 27s on Saturday. This is an important tradition in keeping alive the memories of our fallen comrades.
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Our friends at California Casualty understand first responder schedules. Check out their resource for how to reset your household with unconventional schedules.
The October Reset for Busy Families
www.calcas.com
Small resets can make everyday life a little easier: clearing out the car, reclaiming the entryway, simplifying the kitchen, getting control of the calendar.0 CommentsComment on Facebook
If you’re a retiree on the Relief medical plan, this might be a good event for you to attend.Retirees, we hope to see you at the Health Fair next Tuesday, October 13th! Learn about your benefits and how you can best utilize them. Breakfast and refreshments will be provided.
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Nominations are now open for the 2026 Firefighter of the Year
If you think you know the best of the LAFD we want to hear about them! Nominations for the 2026 Firefighter of the Year are now open. Nominations are due by December 7, 2026.
2025 Firefighter of the Year – Captain II Matt Nolen
It is our honor to announce and congratulate our 2025 Firefighter of the Year, Captain II Matthew Nolen, a firefighter whose life, service, and character reflect the highest ideals of the Los Angeles City Fire Department (LAFD). Captain Nolen is widely known throughout our ranks for his quiet generosity, humility, and steadfast commitment to mentoring […]
2024 Firefighter of the Year: Captain II Andy Ruiz
Congratulations to our 2024 Firefighter of the Year, Captain II Andy Ruiz.