Meet the Board
Ryan Haynie is a 22-year veteran of the fire service. He is a member of the Del Norte Fire Department in Del Norte, Colorado. Ryan currently is the secretary of the department and has served in that capacity for 12 years. Ryan is very active in his community having worked as an EMT for 12 years as well as serving on the local school board for 8 years (2012-2019). Ryan is the President of the San Luis Valley Hazardous Substance Board. Ryan also officiates high school football and basketball. Ryan owns his own produce brokerage company with his father selling potatoes, onions, pinto beans, and rice to customers in the United States as well as Mexico. Ryan represents the Colorado State Fire Fighters Association on the Colorado Fire Commission working on the Recruitment and Retention committee and is President of the Colorado State Fire Fighters Foundation. Ryan and his wife Tammy have 3 children: Preston (21), Kayleigh (17) and Blain (9). In his spare time Ryan enjoys going to the lake with his family on their boat as well as playing golf. | ![]() Ryan Haynie |
Ray was born into the foster system in Canyon, TX. He moved to Lamar, CO where he was adopted, and lived with his adopted parents for 11 years before being put back into the foster care system at the age of 12. Ray went to the University of Southern Colorado out of Pueblo, and also started as a volunteer firefighter with Hasty/McClave Volunteer Fire Department on September 3, 2003. During his 10 year tenure with HMVFD he served as an Ambulance Coordinator, and Captain. He also detailed on assignments a few times a year with the CSFS La Junta District. In 2012 he ran a season with the USFS Central Zone out of Rifle, CO and then began his career with the Rocky Ford Fire Department where he started as an engineer. After a short time he was assigned as interim Fire Chief, and was then sworn in as Fire Chief on February 12th, 2015. He now serve on the Colorado Fire Commission representing Colorado Volunteer Firefighters, and says he lives and breathes the fire service. He strives to be serving our communities with the utmost professionalism and expertise he can offer to help increase the quality of life and care to our communities. | ![]() Ray Gonzales |
Paul has been involved with the Brush Volunteer Fire Department since 1994 and also made the rank of Chief. He is a full time middle school teacher at Brush Middle School as a Career and Technology Educator. This program helps guide students down a path of fire, EMS and LE or other careers. Paul has been with the Brush School District for the past 13 years and holds certifications in Firefighter I, Swift Water Operations, Ice Rescue Operations, HazMat Ops, Storm Spotter for the National Weather Service, EMT, Extrication Specialist and is currently an instructor for the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control in the Driver’s Simulator. Paul and his wife Teresa are dedicated parents of three amazing boys and three grandchildren. If you have questions regarding the Association, Paul can be reached at 970-768-3155. | ![]() Paul Acosta |
Bio to come | ![]() David Aagesen |
Stephen Trujillo is a 34 year veteran of the Del Norte Fire Department. He was inspired to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a volunteer fire fighter at the age of twenty-one. He was one of four brothers to join the Del Norte Fire Department making them the third generation of Trujillos' with a combined total of over 150 years of service. He also served as an EMT for the Del Norte Ambulance for ten years. Stephen worked for the Rio Grande Sheriff’s Office for ten years as the Dispatch Detention Sargent and for six of those years as the Emergency Manager of Rio Grande County. Stephen was the first Hispanic president of the San Luis Valley Fire Fighter Association. He became the active past president in 2015. In 2018 he rejoined the board as a board member and as of June 2021, was voted back in as the Colorado State Firefighters Vice President of the board under the new President, Paul Acosta. Stephen’s goals are to remain in the fire service helping others and continuing his efforts in Colorado. | ![]() Stephen Trujillo |
Ken Wettstein started in the Fire Service in 1982 with the Holyoke Volunteer Fire Department. After serving on the pension board for 8 years, he then started through all the chairs starting with 2nd Assisted Chief to 1st Assisted Chief, Chief, Vice President and, then President. During his 17 years with the Holyoke Volunteer Fire Department he served on many Committees and was heavily involved in many training sessions on Haz/Mat and Chemicals. He has served on this board for 10 years and transferred to the Sterling Volunteer Fire Department in 1999 till 2006, then thought about retiring but of course, that didn’t last. He later joined the Merino Volunteer Fire Department and went back to hold the position of Treasurer for the CSFFA. He also became an EMT in 1983 with the Holyoke EMS Service and was a member of the Core- Zero Team at the Melissa Memorial Hospital in Holyoke Colorado. While he was an EMT, he became the Region 1 Representative on the EMSAC Board of Colorado and served for 18 years. He has also been an Elks and a Lions Club Member for many years and went through all the Chairs in both clubs as well. He has served on many Boards and Committee’s through his career. He has a passion for Fire Fighter and EMS Safety, and we can't thank him enough for his service to so many! | ![]() Ken Wettstein |
Hunter is a passionate person within the fire service. In his department he is a Firefighter, Training Officer, and Public Information Officer. Hunter has been on the Merino Volunteer Fire Department since 2021 and has also worked as a Public Safety Dispatcher answering 911 calls and dispatching within Logan County for two years. Hunter enjoys photography, hunting, fishing, and spending time with family in his time off. | ![]() Hunter Evans |
Kacia has been an active firefighter for six and a half years. Her passion for firefighting and serving the community started as a child when she would get to watch her mom, dad and older brother respond to calls. Kacia is a 4th generation firefighter and has two amazing kids and a loving husband at home. Kacia is currently a traveling CNA, but when she is not traveling or at her fire department she enjoys spending time outdoors with her family. She looks forward to working with the state in the future, and her motto is “dream as if you’ll live forever." | ![]() Kacia Westfahl |
Gregory is a proud volunteer on the Genoa Rural Fire Department since 2019. Originally from Louisiana, he moved to Colorado in 2001, fell in love with the state and the people, then settled down and raised his son and daughter here! | ![]() Gregory Brewton |
As a second generation Fire Figher and volunteer with Holyoke Volunteer Fire Department since 2017, and a volunteer with Merino Volunteer Fire Department since 2008, (Lieutenant since 2016) Chad proves to thrive wherever he goes. He has been voted Firefighter of the Year in Merino twice, and brings a lot to the table! Married to his wife Peg for over 20 years, they have created a beautiful family including three adult daughters as well as two grandsons and two granddaughters. In his spare time, he enjoys wood working, motorcycle riding, hunting, target shooting, and sewing blankets for his family and friends. | ![]() Chad Wettstein |
Colorado State Fire Fighters Foundation - Est. 2016
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