Early yesterday morning, one of our firefighters was seriously injured after being struck by a vehicle while providing care at a traffic collision on westbound State Route 118 near Tapo Canyon Road in Simi Valley. The firefighter received immediate care and was transported to a local trauma center. On the evening of September 28, the firefighter was transferred by VCFD personnel to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles for continued specialized care and remains in stable condition. The firefighter’s family and the Ventura County Fire Department appreciate the community’s support and ask that the public respect their privacy during this time. The California Highway Patrol is investigating the incident. @CountyVentura @CHPMoorpark @VCPFA

VCFD Fighters honored at IAFF Fallen Firefighters Memorial This past Saturday, Engineer Tommy Minadeo and Fire Captain Jeff Mauer were honored at the annual International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) Fallen Firefighters Memorial in Colorado Springs. Engineer Minadeo and Captain Mauer’s names were added to the memorial wall, honoring firefighters from across the country who have lost their lives in the line of duty. Family members of Engineer Minadeo and Captain Mauer were accompanied by Fire Chief Dustin Gardner and other Chief Officers, leadership of the Ventura County Professional Firefighters Association, and the VCFD Honor Guard, who also participated in this annual ceremony. We thank the IAFF for their support and camaraderie in remembering the sacrifice of Engineer Minadeo and Captain Mauer. #firefighter #firstresponder #iaff #fallenfirefighter #venturacounty

Firefighters Rescue Kitten Trapped in an Entertainment Center 🚒
 Ventura County Fire Department responded to a report of an animal in distress and discovered a kitten trapped inside an entertainment center.
 Suki had only been with her new family a few weeks when she crawled partway into an opening in the cabinet and couldn’t back out.
 Firefighters from Engine 50 in Camarillo removed the A/V equipment from the cabinet, gently lowered it into a more workable position, and carefully freed her. Suki showed no signs of injury and was returned to her relieved family.
 Her owner tells us this same video of the rescue was posted to TikTok this week, drawing more than 7 million views.

Thank you @eringarciaphotos for or sharing this story with us, and for supporting VCFD and showcasing their commitment to our community. #catrescue #animalrescue #firefighter #camarillo

VCFD Honors 25th Anniversary of 9/11 This morning, your VCFD firefighters along with Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin, Supervisor Kelly Long, County CEO Dr. Sevet Johnson, and members of our staff and the public gathered at VCFD Headquarters in Thousand Oaks to pay tribute to the lives lost on September 11, 2001. In addition to observing a moment of silence and lowering the flag to half-mast, the names of all 343 firefighters who perished that day were read aloud to honor their sacrifice. Each year, at every VCFD station across the county, firefighters and community members gather to mark this solemn moment in our history. Thank you to all of the community members who joined us to commemorate this occasion. Never forget. #firefighter #september11 #343 #neverforget

Copter 4 flyover of Dodger Stadium with LAFD Air Ops for First Responder Night VC Air Unit Copter 4 joined LAFD's Air Operations for a flyover of Dodger Stadium yesterday - in recognition of the L.A. Dodgers First Responder Night. Thank you @LAFDAirOps for your partnership during emergency incidents and special events. Special thank you to the Los Angeles Dodgers for your unwavering support of first responders across Southern California. #VCFD #LAFD #Dodgers #Helicopter #FirstResponders #Firefighters

The Sandy Fire struck the community of Simi Valley beginning on May 18th. Ultimately, the fire burned 2,183 acres destroying one home and causing over 43,000 evacuations. The Ventura County Fire Department along with over 1,000 firefighters from across California responded to this incident - protecting our community through aggressive firefighting, a coordinate rapid response from regional partners, integrated technology solutions, and community wildfire preparedness. @disasterproof and @repwhitesides produced a short documentary describing how this combination of regional partnerships, strong community support, strict defensible space guidelines, and integrated technology solutions were pivotal in fighting The Sandy Fire and how Ventura County Fire Department and the residents of Simi Valley are a model for what’s possible when preparation and rapid response come together. We encourage you to watch the entire video on their YouTube channel at: piped.video/@disasterproofHQ or via the link tree in our bio. #firefighter #sandyfire #brushfire #wildfireresilence #community

Structure Fire - Camarillo At 8:49am today - VCFD along with VCSO responded to a working structure fire in the 5300 block of Heather Street in Camarillo. Arriving units reported smoke coming from a bedroom of a single story duplex. Firefighters made an aggressive interior attack while also conducting a primary search to ensure all residents had safely evacuated. The fire was contained to the room of origin, and no extension was reported to the adjacent unit. There were no injuries to firefighters or civilians but sadly, one dog was determined to be deceased. Four adults were displaced by the fire, and the cause is under investigation. #firefighter #structurefire #camarillo #firstresponders

#OatFire: Ventura County Fire units are responding to the 900 block of Burson Ranch Road, north of Fillmore, in an area commonly known as the Anomaly. The fire is approximately 1/8 of an acre with a slow rate of spread. VCFD Firehawk Copter 4 is making water drops on the fire. Air tankers and multiple other responding units have been canceled as on-scene resources can handling the incident. The ALERTCalifornia South Mountain East camera currently has a visual on the fire. Additional updates will be provided as conditions change. @CountyVentura @VCAirUnit

#HolserFire Update: Forward progress of the fire has been stopped. Firefighters continue to make good progress and will remain on scene throughout the night, working in steep and difficult terrain. Crews will continue building and strengthening containment lines around the fire perimeter while locating and extinguishing hotspots along the perimeter and throughout the fire’s interior. Evacuation orders have been reduced to evacuation warnings. Residents should remain alert and monitor official sources as conditions can change. For the most accurate and current evacuation information, visit emergency.venturacounty.gov. @CountyVentura @CAL_FIRE @LACOFD @LosPadresNF @VCAirUnit @VENTURASHERIFF

#HolserFire Update: The fire is estimated at 95 acres. Firefighters are making excellent progress while working in challenging, steep and remote terrain. Ground crews are deploying hose lines and working to secure the fire perimeter. Air tankers continue making retardant drops, while helicopters are dropping water on hotspots and supporting firefighters working in difficult-to-access areas. More than 200 firefighters and 80 fire engines are currently assigned to the incident. @CountyVentura @CAL_FIRE @LACOFD @LosPadresNF @VCAirUnit @VENTURASHERIFF

#HolserFire Update: Ventura County firefighters are on scene of a second-alarm brush fire in the 6700 block of Holser Canyon Road, north of Piru. The fire is estimated at 20 acres and is burning in light to medium fuels. Multiple helicopters, including Fire Hawks 4 and 5 and mutual-aid aircraft, are working the fire. Multiple air tankers are also making retardant drops in support of ground crews. Approximately 50 fire engines and more than 100 personnel are assigned to the incident. Please avoid the area and monitor official VCFD channels for updates. @CountyVentura @VCAirUnit

#BuenaFire Update: The fire is estimated at 7–8 acres, with the potential to reach 10–15 acres. Firefighters are focusing efforts on establishing and securing the fire perimeter. Apparatus are being released from structure defense assignments, and fixed-wing air tankers are being canceled

#BuenaFire Update: Ventura County firefighters are on scene of a brush fire in the 14000 block of E. Buena Vista. The fire is estimated at 3–5 acres and is burning in light to medium fuels. Fire Hawks 4 and 5 are assisting ground crews. Fire engines are being positioned for structure defense in the Carlisle Canyon area. Air. Tankers are en route. Evacuation warnings have been requested for Carlisle Canyon. Approximately 30 fire engines and 100 personnel are assigned. Please avoid the area and monitor official VCFD channels for updates. @CountyVentura @VCAirUnit @LACOFD

#KananFire - VCFD firefighters are on scene of the Kanan Fire burning near Westlake Boulevard and Alison Court. Approximately 130 firefighters, supported by 55 fire apparatus and multiple helicopters, are coordinating an aggressive attack from the ground and air. Helicopters are utilizing nearby Bard Reservoir as a water source to support suppression efforts. Firefighters have stopped the forward progress of the fire, which is currently estimated at approximately 5 acres. Crews will continue working to build containment lines and extinguish remaining hot spots. There are road closures on Westlake boulevard, Residents are urged to monitor emergency.venturacounty.gov for the latest evacuation information and official updates. @CountyVentura @VENTURASHERIFF

#BennettFire Ventura County firefighters knocked down and extinguished an approximately 1/2 acre vegetation fire in the 4600 block of Bennett Road, north of Simi Valley. Firefighters stopped the forward rate of spread at 10:49 a.m. and declared the fire extinguished at 11:04 a.m. Crews are completing mop-up operations by applying water and firefighting foam to remaining hot spots to ensure the fire is fully extinguished. Resources are being released, and the area will be patrolled over the next 24 hours. @SimiValleyPD @CountyVentura

Ventura County Fire Department is on scene of a working structure fire in the 2700 Block of Denise Street in Newbury Park. Firefighters arrived on scene to find a two-story, single-family residence with heavy fire showing from the garage. Firefighters made an aggressive attacked and quickly knocked down the fire, while also conducting an interior search to ensure all residents had safely evacuated. Over 40 firefighters were dispatched to the incident. There were no reports of injuries to firefighters or civilians. Two adults were displaced by the fire, and the cause is under investigation. #firefighter #structurefire #newburypark #venturacounty #firstresponder

Happy 250th Birthday, America! 🇺🇸 From participating in parades, to remote rescues and other emergency calls - your VCFD firefighters are honored to serve our community and celebrate this special day in our nation’s history. Stay safe, and happy 4th of July. Pictures & Video: 📍Dozer 14’s crew painted their blade in honor of our 250th anniversary- and participated in the 4th of July Parade in Ojai. 📍Engine 20 and Copter 9 responded to a remote rescue near the punchbowls in Santa Paula. One patient was airlifted from the area, and transferred to a ground ambulance with minor injuries. #firefighter #dozer #ojai #firstresponders #parade

Mutual Aid Response: Ventura County firefighters are assisting the Los Angeles County Fire Department with a reported vegetation fire near State Route 126, just east of Ventura County. The fire is estimated at 15 to 20 acres burning in light grass with a moderate rate of spread. Multiple helicopters are making water drops while ground crews work to access the fire. VCFD resources are responding in support of LA County through the mutual aid system. For the latest incident information and updates, please follow @LACOFD and @LACoFDPIO @CountyVentura

This 4th of July, VCFD is teaming up with Ventura County Sheriff to remind everyone that no matter how we say it, the message is the same: “leave fireworks to the professionals”. Celebrate responsibly! Keep your family, neighbors and our community safe by enjoying one of the many fireworks shows throughout Ventura County.

Training Burn Successfully Completed in Fillmore — Today, VCFD firefighters, alongside mutual aid partners from Fillmore Fire, Los Angeles County Fire Department, Los Angeles Fire Department, Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Protection District, Orange County Fire Authority, and Santa Barbara County Fire Department, successfully completed a live-fire training burn on a 9-acre grass field in Fillmore. The burn provided hands-on training for firefighters participating in a State Ignition Operations course, allowing students to gain practical experience with prescribed fire planning, ignition techniques, drip torch operations, holding operations, and control line construction. In addition to meeting course objectives, the project reduced dry grass fuels near the community ahead of the Fourth of July season, helping improve community safety and wildfire preparedness. Training opportunities like this strengthen regional mutual aid partnerships, build firefighter proficiency, and demonstrate how prescribed fire can be safely used as an effective fuel reduction tool. Thank you to all participating agencies and personnel who helped make today’s training a success. @CountyVentura @LACOFD @LAFD @LACoFDPIO @fillmorefire @CityofFillmore @OCFireAuthority @SBCFireInfo