Ventura County Fire Department
Committed to excellence, delivered with pride.[1] | |
Operational area | |
---|---|
Country | United States |
State | California |
County | Ventura |
Agency overview[2] | |
Established | May 11, 1928 |
Annual calls | 34,779 (2012) |
Employees | 574 total (2012)
|
Annual budget | $126 million (2012) |
Staffing | Career |
Fire chief | Mark Lorenzen[1] |
EMS level | ALS |
Facilities and equipment[2] | |
Stations | 33 |
Engines | 32 frontline 16 reserve |
Trucks | 3 frontline 2 reserve |
Quints | 1 |
Squads | 2 |
Rescues | 2 |
HAZMAT | 1 |
USAR | 1 |
Airport crash | 1 |
Wildland | 11 |
Bulldozers | 9 |
Helicopters | 4 |
Fireboats | 5 |
Website | |
Official website |
The Ventura County Fire Department (VCFD) provides fire protection and emergency response services for the unincorporated areas of Ventura County, California, and for seven other cities within the county. Together, these areas compose the Ventura County Fire Protection District in the state of California, USA. The Ventura County Board of Supervisors is the fire district's board of directors. These five elected supervisors appoint the fire chief, and task him with providing fire protection services for the district.
In addition to the unincorporated areas of Ventura County, the department currently provides the following cities with service: Camarillo, Moorpark, Ojai, Port Hueneme, Santa Paula, Simi Valley, and Thousand Oaks.
Contents
1 History
2 Apparatus
2.1 Engine and medic engine
2.2 Wildland fire engines
2.3 Helicopters
2.4 Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Units (ARFF)
2.5 Dozers
2.6 Fire boat
3 Emergency operations
3.1 Battalion 1
3.2 Battalion 2
3.3 Battalion 3
3.4 Battalion 4
3.5 Battalion 5
4 Organization
4.1 Bureau of Emergency Services
5 References
6 External links
History
On May 11, 1928 the Ventura County Fire Protection District (VCFPD) was established. It wasn't for another two years that a 24-hour Fire Warden was placed on duty.[3]
As the population of the county grew, the VCFD grew as well. In 1946 the department added radios to all of their trucks and rose to a total of 34 personnel. Nearly 33 years later in 1969, the department added a second radio frequency and added a full-time dispatch center at Station 31 in Thousand Oaks. Four years later in 1973, VCFD changed their engines from traditional Fire Engine Red to Yellow.[3]
Apparatus
Engine and medic engine
Ventura County uses two main types of engines. The first is the standard engine, which is often referred to as a "triple-combination pumper" as it has a fire pump, water tank and fire hose. Each engine can deliver 1,500 GPM of water and carry 500 gallons of water. The engines also carry multiple ground ladders and different types of hose.[4] The second type of engine is the Medic Engine. The only real difference between the medic engine and the standard engine is that the medic engines are capable of advanced life support with a firefighter also being a fully trained ALS paramedic.[5]
In addition to the main engines, Ventura County also has reserve engines which are older engines kept as backups or for use on major incidents. Two of the counties reserve engines are provided by the Office of Emergency Services.[6]
Wildland fire engines
Ventura County has 11 Type 3 wildland fire engines that are specifically designed for fighting woodland fires. One feature that sets these engines apart from the standard engines is their ability to pump water from a 500-gallon tank while on the move. This allows firefighters to make a running attack on the fire.[7]
Helicopters
Ventura County has four Helicopters that are jointly used by the VCFD and the Ventura County Sheriff's Department.[8] The fleet of helicopters is made up of four different Bell UH-1 Hueys, one each of the HH-1H, UH-1H, Bell 205B and Bell 212.[9] Each Huey can carry up to nine firefighters and features a 375-gallon water tank that can be used to make drops onto fires.[8] In addition to fire fighting missions, the Hueys are used for search and rescue. emergency medical services, marijuana eradication and surveillance.[9]
Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Units (ARFF)
The Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting units are designed to fight large flammable liquid fires, specifically aircraft fires. They are also utilized on gasoline fires in refineries or tanker trucks on the highway. The engines carry 1,500 gallons of water and is fitted with a pump capable of 1,250 GPM. Two hundred gallons of foam concentrate is also carried on board.[10]
Dozers
To aid in fighting wildfires, VCFD has multiple bulldozers. The dozers, as they are known, travel as a three piece unit consisting of the dozer itself, a tractor-trailer that transports the dozer and a tender that carries tools for servicing the dozer in the field.[11]
Fire boat
The VCFD has a 38-foot fireboat stationed at the Channel Islands Harbor. It is outfitted with a 1,000 GPM water cannon.[12]
Emergency operations
Bolded stations serve as quarters for the various Battalion chiefs in the VCFD.
Battalion 1
Headquartered at Station 54, Battalion 1 services the Camarillo and Somis areas as well as the department's Special Operations activities. Special operations include dealing with hazardous materials, urban search and rescue, water rescue and specialized fire fighting activities such as shipboard and aircraft emergencies.[13]
# | Equipment | Address | City | Nickname | Reference | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
50 |
| 189 S. Las Posas Rd. | Camarillo | Camarillo Airport | [14] | ||
52 |
| 5353 Santa Rosa Rd. | Camarillo | Mission Oaks | [15] | ||
54 |
| 2160 Pickwick Dr. | Camarillo | Camarillo | [13] | ||
55 |
| 403 Valley Vista Dr. | Camarillo | Las Posas | [16] | ||
57 |
| 3356 Somis Rd. | Somis | Somis | [17] |
Battalion 2
Headquartered at Station 23, Battalion 2 services the Ojai Valley area as well as parts of the north coast.[18]
# | Equipment | Address | City | Nickname | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
20 |
| 12727 Santa Paula-Ojai Rd. | Santa Paula | Summitt | [19] |
21 |
| 1201 E. Ojai Av. | Ojai | Ojai | [20] |
22 |
| 466 S. La Luna Av. | Meiners Oaks | Meiners Oaks | [21] |
23 |
| 15 Kunkle St. | Oak View | Oak View | [18] |
25 |
| 5674 W. Pacific Coast Highway | Ventura | Rincon | [22] |
26 |
| 536 W. Main St. | Santa Paula | West Santa Paula | [23] |
Battalion 3
Headquartered at Station 30, Battalion 3 services the area of Conejo Valley.[24]
# | Equipment | Address | City | Nickname | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
30 |
| 325 W. Hillcrest Dr. | Thousand Oaks | Civic Center | [24] |
31 |
| 151 N. Duesenberg Dr. | Thousand Oaks | Westlake | [25] |
32 |
| 830 Reino Rd. | Newbury Park | Potrero | [26] |
33 |
| 33 Lake Sherwood Dr. | Thousand Oaks | Lake Sherwood | [27] |
34 |
| 555 E. Avenida de Los Arboles | Thousand Oaks | Arboles | [28] |
35 |
| 2500 W. Hillcrest Dr. | Newbury Park | Newbury Park | [29] |
36 |
| 855 Deerhill Rd. | Oak Park | Oak Park | [30] |
37 |
| 2010 Upper Ranch Rd. | Thousand Oaks | North Ranch | [31] |
Battalion 4
Headquartered at Station 41, Battalion 4 services the areas of Simi Valley and Moorpark .[32]
# | Equipment | Address | City | Nickname | Reference | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
40 |
| 4185 Cedar Springs St. | Moorpark | Mountain Meadows | [33] | ||
41 |
| 1910 Church St. | Simi Valley | Church Street | [32] | ||
42 |
| 295 E. High Street | Moorpark | Moorpark | [34] | ||
43 |
| 5874 E. Los Angeles Av. | Simi Valley | Yosemite | [35] | ||
44 |
| 1050 Country Club Dr. | Simi Valley | Wood Ranch | [36] | ||
45 |
| 790 Pacific Av. | Simi Valley | Pacific Street | [37] | ||
46 |
| 3265 Tapo St. | Simi Valley | Tapo Street | [38] | ||
47 |
| 2901 Erringer Rd. | Simi Valley | Big Sky | [39] |
Battalion 5
Headquartered at Station 51, Battalion 5 services the areas of the Santa Clara River Valley, El Rio and Port Hueneme.[40]
# | Equipment | Address | City | Nickname | Reference | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
27 |
| 613 Old Telegraph Rd. | Fillmore | Fillmore | [41] | ||
28 |
| 513 N. Church St. | Piru | Piru | [42] | ||
29 |
| 114 S. 10th St. | Santa Paula | Santa Paula | [43] | ||
51 |
| 3302 Turnout Park Cr. | Oxnard | El Rio | [40] | ||
53 |
| 304 N. Second St. | Port Hueneme | Port Hueneme | [44] | ||
56 |
| 11855 Pacific Coast Highway | Malibu | Malibu | [45] |
Organization
VCFD is under the auspices of the Ventura County Board of Supervisors, who appoint the Fire Chief. Reporting directly to the Fire Chief, the Deputy Fire Chief oversees the six bureaus within the department:
- Bureau of Fire Prevention
- Bureau of Emergency Services
- Bureau of Support Services
- Bureau of Planning & Technology
- Bureau of Risk Management, Human Resources & Labor Relations
- Bureau of Administrative & Fiscal Services
Bureau of Emergency Services
This bureau provides fire suppression, emergency medical care, hazardous materials response, Urban search and rescue, swift water rescue, and the Fire Training Section. Under the command of an assistant chief, the bureau composes all three divisions of fire stations, as well as the Fire Training and Emergency Medical Services Sections.
References
^ ab "Chief's Message". Retrieved January 1, 2014..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}
^ ab "Ventura County Fire Protection District 2012 Annual Report". Ventura County Fire Protection District. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
^ ab "History". Ventura County Fire Department Historical Foundation. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
^ "Engine". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
^ "Medic Engine". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
^ "Reserve Engine". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
^ "Brush Engine". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
^ ab "Copter". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
^ ab "Air Unit". Ventura County Sheriff. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
^ "Crash Rescue". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
^ "Dozer". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
^ "Fire Boat". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
^ ab "Station 54". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
^ "Station 50". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
^ "Station 52". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
^ "Station 55". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
^ "Station 57". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
^ ab "Station 23". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
^ "Station 20". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
^ "Station 21". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
^ "Station 22". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
^ "Station 25". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
^ "Station 26". www.vcfd.org. Retrieved 2018-08-11.
^ ab "Station 30". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
^ "Station 31". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
^ "Station 32". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
^ "Station 33". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
^ "Station 34". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
^ "Station 35". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
^ "Station 36". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
^ "Station 37". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
^ ab "Station 41". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
^ "Station 40". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
^ "Station 42". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
^ "Station 43". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
^ "Station 44". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
^ "Station 45". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
^ "Station 46". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
^ "Station 47". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
^ ab "Station 51". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
^ "Station 27". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
^ "Station 40". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
^ "Station 29". www.vcfd.org. Retrieved 2018-08-11.
^ "Station 53". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
^ "Station 56". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
External links
Ventura County Fire Department Official Website
- Fireline - Live Incident Descriptions of the Ventura County Fire Dept.
- Fire Stations Map and Links