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Over time, the need for something intentional became clear.
Over time, the need for something intentional became clear.
After more than 30 years in the fire service, my husband, Matthew Thierfelder retired in February 2025 as a Battalion Chief with the Vancouver Washington Fire Department. Over the last decade of his career, I increasingly felt the quiet isolation that can come with loving and supporting a first responder. The work carries complexity — long shifts, repeated exposure to trauma, public responsibility, and an unspoken expectation of strength. In protecting reputation and pride, families often navigate these realities privately, without guidance, resources, or a clear path toward support.
After more than 30 years in the fire service, my husband, Matthew Thierfelder retired in February 2025 as a Battalion Chief with the Vancouver Washington Fire Department. Over the last decade of his career, I increasingly felt the quiet isolation that can come with loving and supporting a first responder. The work carries complexity — long shifts, repeated exposure to trauma, public responsibility, and an unspoken expectation of strength. In protecting reputation and pride, families often navigate these realities privately, without guidance, resources, or a clear path toward support.
In 2023, our family began a more intentional mental health and wellness journey, including exploring alternative trauma-informed treatments. As we sought out workshops and training opportunities to better understand how to support one another, it became clear that families often lack structured spaces for connection, education, and resilience-building.
In 2023, our family began a more intentional mental health and wellness journey, including exploring alternative trauma-informed treatments. As we sought out workshops and training opportunities to better understand how to support one another, it became clear that families often lack structured spaces for connection, education, and resilience-building.
In the fall of 2025, during a training focused on Resilience, I was encouraged to consider building a local peer support network that could work alongside the Washington State Council of Firefighters during and after critical incidents. That conversation led to learning from women in the Wenatchee Valley who had created a nonprofit structure to provide education, resources, and community support in a sustainable way.
In the fall of 2025, during a training focused on Resilience, I was encouraged to consider building a local peer support network that could work alongside the Washington State Council of Firefighters during and after critical incidents. That conversation led to learning from women in the Wenatchee Valley who had created a nonprofit structure to provide education, resources, and community support in a sustainable way.
It became clear that building something structured and community-informed was the most responsible way forward.
It became clear that building something structured and community-informed was the most responsible way forward.
Fire Service Family Foundation exists to ensure that spouses, partners, and families have access to connection, education, and practical support — and that no family feels alone while navigating the realities of fire service life. Even in retirement.
Fire Service Family Foundation exists to ensure that spouses, partners, and families have access to connection, education, and practical support — and that no family feels alone while navigating the realities of fire service life. Even in retirement.
Our Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors
Kathrine Thierfelder
Kathrine Thierfelder
Secretary
Secretary
Ali Bigelow
Ali Bigelow
Director
Director
Dr. Alicia Bigelow is a naturopathic physician, with a focus on integrative mental health. She completed a two-year family practice residency and later served as academic and clinical faculty at NUNM for over 15 years. In her two decades of patient care, she has witnessed the intimate connection between mental, emotional, spiritual and physical health.
Her work is rooted in care and compassion, providing ketamine and psilocybin facilitation (Oregon licensed), work that enhances access to inner guidance, along with thoughtful, grounded integration support. She considers her work with firefighters and their families to be an immense honor and is grateful to serve on the FSFF Board.
Paige Bombardier
Paige Bombardier
Treasurer
Treasurer
Paige Bombardier is a certified registered nurse anesthetist with 10 years of experience providing anesthesia in operating rooms across the United States.
Her father is a fire fighter.
After fighting a battle with postpartum depression, Paige has dedicated her life to supporting mental health initiatives. Through FSFF she has utilized her love of fashion, art, music, sound healing, and fundraising to raise awareness for mental health support for families of fire service members.
In her spare time, Paige competes in bodybuilding competitions, creates sculptures, enjoying a good cup of coffee, and spending time with her family.
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