Matt Hayes, CFO, John Crafter, president, Patty Marruffo, secretary, and Dante Marruffo, vice president of The Firehouse Family organization pose with their axes.

For the third year in a row, over two hundred firefighter families partook in the annual Firehouse Family Retreat. This year, hosted at Pine Springs Ranch from March 20-23, families enjoyed three and a half days of fellowship and activities for the entire family to enjoy. Patty Marruffo, Southeastern California Conference (SECC) executive secretary, and Dante Marruffo, senior pastor of Orange Coast church, serve as volunteer chaplains for the Riverside Fire Department. The idea for the event was born out of assessing a need when ministering to firefighters in active duty. They partnered with John Crater, fire chief for the Temecula Division, three years ago to support firefighters and their families. To their success, the Southeastern California Conference along with the Pacific Union Conference, the City of Temecula, and a number of other organizations, helped sponsor the event for a third year.

Patty Marruffo and John Crater share a hug.

The Firehouse Family is a registered non-profit organization that seeks to provide resources and relief to firefighters and their families. In the March 27 Executive Committee meeting held by SECC, Chief John Crater shared a personal testimony to the executive body about his experience as a firefighter and the impact the event has had on his family. "I am incredibly grateful to my friends, Patty and Dante, and to this body for your support of this event," Crater said. Bradford Newton, president of the Pacific Union Conference was in attendance at the meeting. Chief Crater presented an engraved axe, dedicated to the Pacific Union Conference, in gratitude of their support.

Elder Brad Newton is presented with the Pacific Union axe.

Plans are already underway for the next Firehouse Family Retreat on March 19-22, 2026. To learn more about the Firehouse Family, visit www.thefirehousefamily.org/home.

The Firehouse Family is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.