About the VCFD
Our Mission
The mission of the Ventura County Fire Department is to anticipate and respond to the dynamic public safety needs of a diverse community of about 840,000 people. This includes not only fire prevention, but also education, response, and communication. Our wide-ranging response area covers 848 square miles and includes all unincorporated areas along with the cities of Ojai, Port Hueneme, Moorpark, Camarillo, Santa Paula, Simi Valley, and Thousand Oaks.
Our vision is that the Ventura County Fire Department will always deliver the highest level of public service through a true team effort. Our most important values include:
- Trust
- Honesty
- Respect
- Integrity
- Safety
- Teamwork
- Communication
- Accountability
- Service to Others
Who We Are
Composed of approximately 658 dedicated men and women, the Ventura County Fire Protection District (commonly known as the Ventura County Fire Department) is an all-hazard, full-service special district operating under the Fire Protection District Law of 1987. The Ventura County Board of Supervisors serves as the district’s Board of Directors.
What We Do
Prevention and Education:
Providing safety involves planning, prevention, and education to ensure that our citizens and communities can protect their homes, property, and businesses against fire and natural disasters. Ever-expanding knowledge of risk mitigation and fire prevention techniques allows VCFD to build a foundation of safe practices through historical successes. VCFD employs multiple fire prevention, education, and safety programs for children, adults, and seniors. This includes fire code and regulation enforcement, plan reviews, home and business inspections, fire code permits, film permits, and an award-winning, nationally recognized Fire Hazard Reduction Program.
Emergency and Non-Emergency Response:
VCFD responds to calls from 34 strategically placed fire stations located all across Ventura County. Our firefighters are trained to provide the highest level of firefighting, rescue, and emergency medical care. In addition to fighting fires, we respond to medical emergencies, traffic accidents, land and water rescues, hazardous materials calls, environmental hazards, and a variety of public service requests.
In 2022, VCFD responded to 52,012 calls for service, including 39,624 medical emergencies, 3,174 rescues, 1,482 fires and thousands of other urgent requests for assistance. That’s an average of 142 responses each day.
Communication:
VCFD makes it a priority to communicate with the public through several channels including our FCC dispatch center and public information office. Our public information office ensures that vital details and directions are disseminated to the public for educational purposes and during emergencies. Additionally, our fire prevention counters help people determine how to best protect their homes, property, and businesses against costly and potentially deadly blazes.
who we are
Message FROM THE cHIEF
Welcome to the Ventura County Fire Department’s website. Here you will find an overview of our operations, safety information, career opportunities, our history, and more, demonstrating our commitment to provide excellent service to all the people of our diverse community.
It is my honor to serve as your fire chief. This is my home and I have spent my entire professional career with this department.
Each of us at VCFD is dedicated to making Ventura County a safer place to live, work and visit. Additionally, my expectation for all our employees is that we treat everyone we encounter with the same respect we would provide a family member. You deserve nothing less.
While we continually work to ensure we have the right training, equipment, and facilities to meet our community’s public safety needs, our biggest partner in public safety is you.
Being prepared for emergencies, getting involved, and staying informed improves your ability to stay safe and reduces the risks to your home or business.
Our “Ready, Set, Go!” page is filled with information about how to prepare your home and family for wildfires, floods, earthquakes, and other emergencies. Please explore its materials and take steps to improve your emergency preparedness.
Our community has seen the impacts of large-scale emergencies, and unfortunately, we are likely to see others in the future. When we work together, we can be our best when we need each other most.
Sincerely,
Dustin Gardner
Fire Chief
