About Our Team
The Texas Line of Duty Death Task Force was one of the first official response teams in the United States. In 2000, after a blaze took the life of firefighter Scott Harshbarger, firefighter Wendy Norris and Lumberton fire chief Dennis Gifford saw first hand how difficult a fatality is on a family and a department. From that experience they discussed the need of having a 'strike team' made up of fire service members of all rank that would respond within 24 hours to a department that suffered a fatality. Wendy, who is the President of Firefighter Ministries, started working on the details of such a team. She then presented her information to the Texas State Firemen's and Fire Marshal's Association whom readily agreed that such a team should be formed. In early 2001 the Texas Line of Duty Death Task Force was officially formed under the guidance of Firefighter Ministries, Texas State Firemen's and Fire Marshal's Association, and the State Fire Marshal's Office.
Since it's inception, the Line of Duty Death Task Force has provided assistance to dozens of families and departments, consulted with hundreds of department around Texas and across the country, educated over a thousand firefighters and EMS workersin department preparation, and has officially partnered with the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, the Texas State Firemen's and Fire Marshal's Association, and The Federation of Fire Chaplains. And while the LODD Task Force no longer operates under the guise of the SFMO, they still work closely with the State Fire Marshal as well as with many of their investigators.
The Texas LODD Task Force provides assistance, consulting and education to all fire and EMS departments whether union, private, government, industrial or volunteer. Our team is made up of emergency workers of all ranks who volunteer their time to this important cause. The Task Force is funded through the donations and grants given by private citizens, organizations, and corporations and works under the 501 (c) 3 status of Firefighter Ministries.
At Need Assistance
When a line of duty death occurs, the aftermath can send a department into a tailspin. The trauma and stress of the situation can be blinding. Most departments find that a myriad of support ard services are quickly offered by many individuals, departments, and organizations. While this offered help is well-intentioned, it can quickly become overwhelming and confusing. If your department does experience a line of duty death, it is important that contact is made to the appropriate entities as soon as possible so some of that initial stress can be eliviated.
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Capsule Story Cras enim. Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia Curae; Ut eu augue. Integer risus wisi, semper eu, congue quis, lobortis ut, massa. Vestibulum auctor vestibulum lectus. Vivamus neque. Cras lobortis. Aenean ut turpis eu libero volutpat euismod. Donec eget lectus vitae ligula ornare tempor. Vivamus scelerisque lorem a elit. Sed id mauris. |
Capsule Story Cras enim. Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia Curae; Ut eu augue. Integer risus wisi, semper eu, congue quis, lobortis ut, massa. Vestibulum auctor vestibulum lectus. Vivamus neque. Cras lobortis. Aenean ut turpis eu libero volutpat euismod. Donec eget lectus vitae ligula ornare tempor. Vivamus scelerisque lorem a elit. Sed id mauris. |
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Capsule Story Cras enim. Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia Curae; Ut eu augue. Integer risus wisi, semper eu, congue quis, lobortis ut, massa. Vestibulum auctor vestibulum lectus. Vivamus neque. Cras lobortis. Aenean ut turpis eu libero volutpat euismod. Donec eget lectus vitae ligula ornare tempor. Vivamus scelerisque lorem a elit. Sed id mauris. |
Capsule Story Cras enim. Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia Curae; Ut eu augue. Integer risus wisi, semper eu, congue quis, lobortis ut, massa. Vestibulum auctor vestibulum lectus. Vivamus neque. Cras lobortis. Aenean ut turpis eu libero volutpat euismod. Donec eget lectus vitae ligula ornare tempor. Vivamus scelerisque lorem a elit. Sed id mauris. |
