El Niño Preparedness Resources 🌧️ Ventura County Fire is helping residents with information and resources on how to prepare for El Niño and the potential of significant winter storms. Our website now features a new section with El Niño preparedness information - including sandbag locations, flood safety tips, and much more. Although today’s storm system may not significantly impact all areas of the county, it’s a timely and important reminder to plan now for rain and flooding emergencies before they happen. Visit fire.venturacounty.gov/el-ni… to learn more and please comment below on tips you’d like to see. #firefighter #elniño #flood #venturacounty #firstresponder

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: youtube.com/@disasterproofHQ or via the link tree in our bio. #firefighter #sandyfire #brushfire #wildfireresilence #community

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

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.

Great to see so many cyclists of all ages learning about bike safety at @vcd2sup’s bike rodeo event. We’re sharing tips on battery safety for e-bikes and how to stay visible no matter what you ride. #bikesafety

VCFD is proud to support Supervisor Jeff Gorell’s Bike Rodeo and E-Bike Safety event tomorrow from 10am - 1pm. Come join VCFD and other community partners as we give hand-on safety tips on bicycle and E-bike safety, and much more. The Bike Rodeo will be held at Redwood Middle School - 233 West Gainsborough Road in Thousand Oaks. We hope to see you there!

Today has been designated a permitted agricultural burn day by the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District (VCAPCD). Agricultural burning is used to dispose of plant waste from farming operations and is allowed only in agricultural areas with a valid burn permit.   The Fire Department is aware of these permitted burns and is monitoring conditions. On burn days, VCFD personnel coordinate with VCAPCD to help ensure fire safety and compliance with air quality rules (VCAPCD Rule 56, Open Burning).   Please note: • Only agricultural operations with approved permits may burn. • Permits are issued by the local VCFD station and require pre-approval and safety checks before burning may begin. • Smoke may be visible throughout portions of the county during permitted burn hours.   If you see smoke and are unsure of its source or have any concerns, please call 9-1-1 so we can respond safely.   More agricultural burn information: Ventura County APCD – vcapcd.org/agricultural-burn…