Ventura County Fire Department

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.

Ventura County Fire Department
Committed to excellence, delivered with pride.[1]
Operational area
Country United States
State California
CountyVentura
Agency overview[2]
EstablishedMay 11, 1928
Annual calls32,110 (2018)
Employees583 total (2018)
  • 395 Safety personnel
  • 158 Non-safety personnel
Annual budget$126 million (2012)
StaffingCareer
Fire chiefMark Lorenzen[1]
EMS levelALS
Facilities and equipment[2]
Battalions5
Stations33
Engines32 frontline
16 reserve
Trucks3 frontline
2 reserve
Quints1 frontline
1 reserve
Squads2 frontline
2 reserve
Rescues3 frontline
1 reserve
Ambulancesambulances are controlled by AMR
Tenders2
HAZMAT3
USAR3
Airport crash1
Wildland11
Bulldozers3 frontline
1 reserve
Helicopters4
Fireboats1
Light and air2
Website
Official website

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.

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 as well as various types of firefighting, rescue and medical equipment.[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 (ALS) with a firefighter also being a fully trained Advanced Life Support (ALS) paramedic. These units have additional equipment on board for specialized emergency responses.[5]

Medic rescue engine/rescue engine

Ventura county fire department also has these units where it is a two part company that consist of an engine or medic engine and a rescue unit. The stations that have these are 23 which has an engine and rescue making a rescue engine, 27 which also has an engine and rescue, and 31 which has a medic engine and a rescue giving it the medic rescue engine (MRE) designation not the normal rescue engine (RE) one. These companies respond to everything, with 31 being in the heart of Thousand oaks making it one of the busiest stations in the entire department.

Water tenders

Ventura county fire department has 2 water tenders currently in service, they are water tender 40 and water tender 27. These units are used on brush fires when there is no hydrants available for engines to refill there pumps. They are stationed at station 40 and 27. 27 is much newer than 40, with 40 being an old KME, and the most notable feature of 40 is that instead of being yellow, like most of the other units in the department, it is red.

Quints

Ventura county fire department currently has one quint frontline and the one in reserve. What sets these units apart from other truck companies is that they have a pump and carry water. These quints are quints 44 and 144, and are stationed at station 44 in wood ranch. Quint 44 is the one in frontline and is a 2015 rosenbauer commander tractor drawn Quiller (quint+tiller), and the reserve one being quint 144, an American Lafrance rear mount quint, another fun fact is that code3customs made a diecast model of quint 144 when it was rescue engine 40. 144 also served as rescue engine 40, then got the paramedic designation and then was quint 44, and is now in reserve as quint 144. These units respond to calls as if they were and engine and a truck.

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 department 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 wildland 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. This feature is called "pump and roll"[7]

Helicopters
Air Unit Fire Support Bell HH-1H

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, can fly up to 100 miles per hour, and features a 375-gallon water tank that can be used to make drops onto fires. In September 2019 Ventura County incorporated three UH-60 helicopters for firefighting use. The surplus helicopters, obtained from the U.S. Army, are referred to as Firehawks and have been modified for crew transport, patient transport, and to carry water-dropping belly tanks. They provide increased speed (160 miles per hour) and water carrying capacity (1,000 gallons) over the existing fleet.[10][8] In addition to fire fighting missions, the Hueys and Firehawks 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.[11]

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 which callsigns are "trans[prt and a tender that carries tools for servicing the dozer in the field.[12]

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.[13]

Emergency operations

Bolded stations serve as quarters for the various Battalion chiefs in the VCFD. There are 5 Battalions in the department, each commanded by a Battalion Chief. Station 54 is also the headquarters for the departments special operations.

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.[14]

station # Equipment Address City Nickname Reference
50
  • Engine 50
  • Crash 50
  • Hazmat 50
  • Squad 50
  • Foam 50
  • Utility 50
  • two decon trailers that are at the RTC
 189 S. Las Posas Rd. Camarillo Camarillo Airport [15]
52
  • Medic Engine 52
  • Engine 152
  • squad 52
 5353 Santa Rosa Rd. Camarillo Mission Oaks [16]
54
  • Battalion 1
  • Engine 54
  • Truck 54
  • USAR 154
  • USAR 54
  • USAR officer
  • OES swiftwater 10
  • OES swiftwater trailer
  • UTV 54
  • Water rescue trailer
 2160 Pickwick Dr. Camarillo Camarillo [14]
55
  • Engine 55
  • Engine 155
  • Brush Engine 355
 403 Valley Vista Dr. Camarillo Las Posas [17]
57
  • Engine 57
  • Brush Engine 357
  • Light & Air 57
 3356 Somis Rd. Somis Somis [18]

Battalion 2

Headquartered at Station 23, Battalion 2 services the Ojai Valley area as well as parts of the north coast.[19]

station # Equipment Address City Nickname Reference
20
  • Engine 20
  • Patrol 20
 12727 Santa Paula-Ojai Rd. Santa Paula Summitt [20]
21
  • Medic Engine 21
  • Engine 121
  • Utility 21
  • Brush Engine 321
 1201 E. Ojai Av. Ojai Ojai [21]
22
  • Engine 22
  • Brush Engine 322
  • Utility 22
 466 S. La Luna Av. Meiners Oaks Meiners Oaks [22]
23
  • Medic rescue Engine 23
  • Battalion 2
 15 Kunkle St. Oak View Oak View [19]
25
  • Engine 25
  • Engine 125
  • Water Rescue 25
 5674 W. Pacific Coast Highway Ventura Rincon [23]

Battalion 3

Headquartered at Station 30, Battalion 3 services the area of Conejo Valley.[24]

station # Equipment Address City Nickname Reference
30
  • Engine 30
  • Battalion 3
  • Brush Engine 330
  • Squad 30
  • Day Engine 85
 325 W. Hillcrest Dr. Thousand Oaks Civic Center [24]
31
  • Medic Engine 31
  • Rescue 31
  • Rescue 131
 151 N. Duesenberg Dr. Thousand Oaks Westlake [25]
32
  • Medic Engine 32
  • Engine 132
  • Utility 32
 830 Reino Rd. Newbury Park Potrero [26]
33
  • Engine 33
  • Brush Engine 333
  • Patrol 33
 33 Lake Sherwood Dr. Thousand Oaks Lake Sherwood [27]
34
  • Medic Engine 34
  • Engine 134
  • Utility 34
  • Hazmat officer
  • ground support trailer
 555 E. Avenida de Los Arboles Thousand Oaks Arboles [28]
35
  • Engine 35
  • Truck 35
  • Command 11
  • OES Reserve Engine 344
 751 Mitchell Rd. Newbury Park Newbury Park [29]
36
  • Medic Engine 36
  • Engine 136
  • Utility 36
 855 Deerhill Rd. Oak Park Oak Park [30]
37
  • Engine 37
  • Light & Air 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]

station # Equipment Address City Nickname Reference
40
  • Medic Engine 40
  • Engine 140
  • Water Tender 40
  • Utility 40
  • USAR 40
  • USAR cache trailer 1
 4185 Cedar Springs St. Moorpark Mountain Meadows [33]
41
  • Engine 41
  • Truck 41
  • Battalion 4
 1910 Church St. Simi Valley Church Street [32]
42
  • Engine 42
  • Engine 142
  • Brush Engine 342
 295 E. High Street Moorpark Moorpark [34]
43
  • Medic Engine 43
  • Brush Engine 343
  • Patrol 16
 5874 E. Los Angeles Av. Simi Valley Yosemite [35]
44
  • Quint 44
  • Quint 144
  • Day Engine 86
  • Truck 140
 1050 Country Club Dr. Simi Valley Wood Ranch [36]
45
  • Engine 45
  • Engine 145
  • Dozer 14
 790 Pacific Av. Simi Valley Pacific Street [37]
46
  • Engine 46
  • OES Engine 397
 3265 Tapo St. Simi Valley Tapo Street [38]
47
  • Medic Engine 47
  • Truck 147
  • Utility 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]

station # Equipment Address City Nickname Reference
26
  • Engine 26
  • Squad 26
  • Engine 126
 536 W. Main St. Santa Paula West Santa Paula [41]
27
  • Rescue Engine 27
  • Rescue 27
  • Water Tender 27
  • Dozer 12
  • Utility 27
  • Rescue 127
 613 Old Telegraph Rd. Fillmore Fillmore [42]
28
  • Medic Engine 28
  • Brush Engine 328
  • Patrol 16
 513 N. Church St. Piru Piru [43]
29
  • Engine 29
  • Brush Engine 329
 114 S. 10th St. Santa Paula Santa Paula [44]
51
  • Day Engine 83
  • Day Engine 84
  • Battalion 5
 3302 Turnout Park Cr. Oxnard El Rio [40]
53
  • Medic Engine 53
  • Water Rescue 53
 304 N. Second St. Port Hueneme Port Hueneme [45]
56
  • Engine 56
  • Patrol 56
  • Engine 356
 11855 Pacific Coast Highway Malibu Malibu [46]

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 five bureaus within the department:

  • Emergency Services Bureau
  • Support Services Bureau
  • Administrative Services Bureau
  • Fire Prevention Bureau
  • Business Services Bureau

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
  1. "Chief's Message". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  2. "Ventura County Fire Department Annual Reports". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  3. "History". Ventura County Fire Protection District. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  4. "Engine" (PDF). Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  5. "Medic Engine" (PDF). Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  6. "Reserve Engine" (PDF). Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  7. "Brush Engine" (PDF). Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  8. "Copter" (PDF). Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  9. "Air Unit". Ventura County Sheriff. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  10. Childs, Jeremy (September 5, 2019). "New helicopter lifts capabilities for Ventura County Air Unit". Ventura County Star. Retrieved 2019-09-06.
  11. "Crash Rescue" (PDF). Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  12. "Dozer" (PDF). Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  13. "Fire Boat" (PDF). Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  14. "Station 54". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  15. "Station 50". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  16. "Station 52". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  17. "Station 55". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  18. "Station 57". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  19. "Station 23". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  20. "Station 20". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  21. "Station 21". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  22. "Station 22". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  23. "Station 25". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  24. "Station 30". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  25. "Station 31". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  26. "Station 32". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  27. "Station 33". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  28. "Station 34". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  29. "Station 35". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  30. "Station 36". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  31. "Station 37". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  32. "Station 41". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  33. "Station 40". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  34. "Station 42". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  35. "Station 43". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  36. "Station 44". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  37. "Station 45". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  38. "Station 46". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  39. "Station 47". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  40. "Station 51". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  41. "Station 26". vcfd.org. Retrieved 2019-09-10.
  42. "Station 27". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  43. "Station 28". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  44. "Station 29". vcfd.org. Retrieved 2019-09-10.
  45. "Station 53". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  46. "Station 56". Ventura County Fire Department. Retrieved September 10, 2019.


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