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Meet The Firehouse Family team
John Crater, President
Chief John Crater, better known as the Cowboy, started his career as a volunteer firefighter in Perris, CA in 1994. In 1999, he became a professional firefighter for Cal Fire, the 4th largest department in the United States. John is a loving and devoted husband and father to 2 kids.
In his career, he admits that the calls for service he went on took its toll on his mental health and it carried over into his personal life. After seeking help to address these issues, he wanted to give back. Chief Crater joined the Riverside County Peer Support team and assists over 1400 personnel cope with the traumas endured by running over 180,000 calls of service yearly.
Looking back on his healing journey, John saw that there were no programs available that helped heal both him and his family together. He felt that his healing journey was a solo hike, which can be isolating. John knew he needed to heal the hurt that his family felt so he came up with the idea of the Firehouse Family.
Dante Marruffo, Vice President
Hi, I’m Dante Marruffo, originally from Lima, Peru, and I’ve been a Fire Department Chaplain for over 17 years. I’m also part of the Riverside County Fire Department Peer Support Team and the California Fire Chaplain Association. My passion is serving fire personnel and their families, understanding the high levels of stress that come with every call. I love being there to support the firefighters, holding space for them and their families as they navigate the unique challenges of their work.
As a minister, I’ve also had the privilege of working with youth and young adults in the community for over 23 years, helping them grow and thrive. Traveling has given me the opportunity to connect with fire departments in Mexico, Spain, Colombia, and beyond, fostering relationships and learning from each other.
I’m also working on training my energetic Labrador, Bingo, to be an emotional support K9—another way I hope to give back. I believe that creating a safe place for first responders and their loved ones is essential, and that’s why I’m excited to be part of the Firehouse Family Retreat.
“The end of all knowledge should be service to others.” – Cesar Chavez.
Let’s build a community of support together!
Patty Marruffo, Secretary
Patty Marruffo, originally from Santa Barbara, California, is an alumna of UC Riverside and Andrews University. With over 12 years of experience as a Chaplain for Riverside County Fire Department, she is dedicated to supporting fire personnel and their families. Her pastoral work extends to children, families, and youth in various congregations, and she now serves as the Executive Vice President for Administration at the Southeastern California Conference.
A strong advocate for firefighter well-being, Patty emphasizes mental health and family support, leading initiatives like the Firehouse Family Retreat to address challenges within the fire community.
In her downtime, Patty enjoys the beach, good books, and new recipes, but her greatest joy comes from time with her husband, Dante, and their adult children, Daniel and Jessica, along with their spouses.
Matt Hayes, CFO
Captain Paramedic Matt Hayes started his career as a volunteer firefighter in Hemet, Ca in 1992. In 1996, he became a professional firefighter with Cal Fire, the 4th largest department in the United States. Matt is a loving and devoted husband and father to 4 kids.
Matt admits that his career made him difficult to deal with at home. The things that he saw on calls for service, coupled with lack of sleep and his stubbornness to seek mental health led to his struggles at home.
"I would come home after a typical shift (72 hours straight at a minimum) and would be in a bad mood for no reason. I would yell at my kids if they were playing too loud. My wife Tiffany helped me realize what I was doing. It was then I got help." Matt Hayes
Captain Hayes joined the Riverside County Peer Support team and responded to incidents throughout the State of California when tragedies occurred. Matt has since retired from Cal Fire but still helps fighters and their families deal with the struggles of the profession.
Retreat Information
Check out our Events tab for details on our next relaxing retreat.