ABOUT US

The AVVFFA is a 501c3 non profit organization.

Membership in the Association is open to all persons interested in working to support the Anderson Valley Fire Department and its members.

We meet at the Boonville Volunteer Fire Station on the 3rd Thursday of every month.

The AVVFFA has been in existence since 1984 and has grown in its ability to support the

volunteers. Donated funds are used to improve the "quality of life" for our volunteers and have been used to purchase new uniform components, convenience items to facilitate the use of safety and emergency gear, test samples of new equipment, and food and refreshments during training events and major emergency responses. Additionally, the AVVFFA hosts an annual holiday dinner to honor and thank the emergency response volunteers.

For reference, the mission statement of the AVFD reads “a longstanding local community

organization committed to preserving life and property by delivering proficient rescue, fire

suppression, prevention and emergency medical services. Together, driven by duty and

passion, we commit our skills, knowledge and time to serve our residents and visitors during

their time of need.”

The Community We Support:

Anderson Valley is located approximately 100 miles north of San Francisco, California, between Cloverdale and the ocean along Highway 128. There are four towns that span Anderson Valley--Yorkville, Boonville, Philo, and Navarro.

As a rural community, Anderson Valley’s volunteer first responders are the community’s lifeline when a fire or medical emergency arises. In Anderson Valley, 98% of the firefighters and EMS first responders are volunteers. This means the safety and security of our community is almost entirely dependent on the generous contribution of the time and energy of our volunteer fire department.

We would love to have you join us.

OUR TEAM

Meet our current board and supporters

SANDY MAILLIARD

Co-President

Sandy grew up part time in Anderson Valley. She went to school in San Francisco but every weekend and every summer was spent on the family ranch on Fish Rock Road. In 2005 with Karen Bates and Vicki Moss she opened the Farmhouse Mercantile in downtown Boonville, went to the fire academy to become a volunteer fire fighter and took Sarah McCarters EMT class to become an EMS responder.
Sandy has many years of non profit work under her belt, from The Access Fund, dealing with rock climbing issues to Community Rebuilds who helps build low income housing using a student education program and straw bales. Currently happy to be an officer with AVVFFA, working in the mercantile and helping the town of Greenville rebuild after it was burnt to the ground in the Dixie fire.

JUDY LONG

Co-President

Born and raised in the San Joaquin Valley and moved to the Bay area where I met my husband. I spent most of my career at NASA’s Ames Research Center where I worked up through the ranks and became the Secretary to the Director. During this time, we purchased a home in Rancho Navarro and retired here in the early 1990s. I found that I liked playing with animals better than people. I raised bummer lambs, bought chickens and went into small time farming. I still juggle 2 Llamas, 1 Alpaca, 1 sheep, 24 chickens, 2 geese, 4 ducks, 3 dogs, 6 cats and 4 goldfish. We worried about forest fires and felt the only way the learn how to deal with that fear was to join the fire department as volunteers. A Firewoman from Holmes Ranch convinced me that we should learn to drive the ambulance…”it’ll be fun” she said. That started my second career as a firefighter/EMT. That lasted 16 years, and now I’m really retired. During those 16 years I served on the CSD Board for 8 years, the ambulance board for 5 years, and founded the volunteer fire fighters association.

AUTUMN EHNOW

Co-President

Autumn has lived in the Philo area of the Anderson Valley since 2016. Currently the Treasurer of the AVVFFA. As part of the team that founded the nonprofit pharmaceutical company Medicines360, Autumn brings her experience in nonprofit management to the AVVFFA to help the AV community.

LEE SERIE

Vice President

Lee joined the AVVFFA board when the AV Volunteer Fire Department and AV Ambulance Services merged. She brings many years of professional and non-profit experience, as well as imagination and logic to the board.

PHILIP THOMAS

Treasurer

Philip Thomas is a native northern Californian. He moved to Anderson Valley 48 years ago. He worked in elementary schools for 40 years. He joined the AV Ambulance Board in 1989 and since the merger has been active with the CSD Emergency Medical Services Committee. He joined AVVFFA in 2020. Philip is active with the AV Senior Center, the AV Village and serves as a director of the Community Foundation. Besides being with his wife of 38 years, he enjoys gardening and snorkeling. The light of his life is his one and only grandchild.

TINA WALTER

Secretary

Tina joined the AVFD in 2006 as a firefighter, became an EMT in 2008 and joined the AVVFFA in 2012. A graphic designer by profession and always a philanthropist at heart. She brings many years of non-profit involvement and experience to the AVVFFA.