Ventura County Fire Department

What Ventura County Fire Department does

Ventura County Fire Department (VCFD) is an all-hazard, full-service public fire agency established in 1928 and operated as the Ventura County Fire Protection District, a special district within Ventura County, California. VCFD provides fire protection, emergency medical services, technical rescue, hazardous materials response, and wildland fire management to the cities of Camarillo, Moorpark, Ojai, Port Hueneme, Santa Paula, Simi Valley, and Thousand Oaks, plus unincorporated areas of Ventura County. Operations are delivered through 33 strategically located fire stations, a 24/7 Fire Communications Center with GPS-enabled Computer Aided Dispatch, a Fire Prevention Bureau handling plan review and inspections, and a Regional Fire Training Academy with a new Live Fire Training Complex in Camarillo. The department employs approximately 560-600 personnel and is one of only six CAL FIRE Contract Counties in California, with its current Fire Chief being Dustin Gardner, the 12th in the department's 94-year history.

VCFD's product portfolio splits into core emergency services (fire response, EMS, rescue, hazmat, wildland fire management, prevention bureau, Fire Communications Center, Fire Academy) and community-facing services (Ready, Set, Go! preparedness program, CERT training, PulsePoint citizen alerts, Watch Duty wildfire tracking, Fire Hazard Reduction Program, Spark of Love Toy Drive, Girls' Fire Camp, Junior Fire Academy, and Community Education). Technology stack includes PulsePoint Respond and PulsePoint AED for citizen CPR/AED engagement, Watch Duty for wildfire situational awareness, GPS-enabled CAD for dispatch, ArcGIS for fire damage assessment mapping, VC Alert (Everbridge) for emergency notifications, and the Vibrant Planet wildfire planning platform acquired through the CAL FIRE partnership. In 2025 VCFD launched the first whole-blood-in-the-field program by a California fire department.

As a government entity, VCFD does not generate commercial revenue. It is funded through Ventura County taxpayer funds and Ventura County Fire Protection District special assessments, with services delivered to residents at no direct charge. Fees apply only for specific permits (burn permits, plan review, inspections). The department operates under the Ventura County Board of Supervisors with the Fire Chief reporting to the County Executive Officer, and has no private equity, venture capital, or individual ownership interest. Notable partnerships include CAL FIRE (technology and coordination), PulsePoint Foundation (emergency apps), Rosenbauer (apparatus manufacturer), ABC7 and U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots (Spark of Love toy drive), and Southern California Edison (utility-related fire cause investigations).

Name

Ventura County Fire Department

Legal name

Ventura County Fire Department

Website

https://vcfd.org

Company type

Public

Founded year

1928

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Ventura County Fire Department is a public all-hazard fire agency operating 33 fire stations across seven contracted cities and unincorporated areas of Ventura County, California, delivering fire, EMS, rescue, hazmat, and wildland response with approximately 560 personnel.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fire Protection and Emergency Services

NAICS

Fire Protection (92216), Fire Protection (922160)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Safety Administration (Fire/EMS, Emergency Management) (BPAIACAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fire & Rescue Services (Fire Suppression, Rescue) (BPAIAGAB), Fire Prevention, Inspection & Code Enforcement (Life Safety) (BPAIAGAL), Wildfire Risk Assessment, Prevention & Suppression Services (IMAMAJAG), Wildfire Suppression & Incident Response (AFAMAEAE)

Keywords

• Fire protection services
• Emergency medical services
• Wildland fire management
• Hazardous materials response
• Technical rescue services

Headquarters

HQ city

Thousand Oaks

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Tax-funded emergency services: Public agency funded through county taxes and the Ventura County Fire Protection District. Services provided to residents and property owners in incorporated cities and unincorporated areas.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Ventura County Fire Department is an all-hazard, full-service public safety agency providing fire protection, emergency medical aid, rescue operations, hazardous materials response, and wildland fire management across Ventura County, California. The department delivers services through 33 strategically located fire stations, a 24/7 Fire Communications Center for dispatch coordination, and a Fire Prevention Bureau for inspections and permits. Community-facing programs include the Ready, Set, Go! emergency preparedness initiative, CERT training, PulsePoint mobile app, Fire Hazard Reduction Program, and youth programs such as Girls' Fire Camp and Junior Fire Academy.

Product overview

The Ventura County Fire Department is an all-hazard, full-service fire agency providing fire protection, medical aid, rescue, hazardous materials response, and emergency services through 33 strategically located fire stations. The department operates a 24/7 Fire Communications Center for dispatch coordination, the Fire Prevention Bureau for inspections and permits, and a Regional Fire Training Academy. Community services include the Ready Set Go! preparedness program, CERT training, PulsePoint emergency app, Fire Hazard Reduction Program, and youth programs including Girls' Fire Camp and Junior Fire Academy. The department also conducts annual Spark of Love Toy Drive and provides real-time wildfire tracking via Watch Duty.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Emergency Response Services Fire protection, medical aid, rescue operations, hazardous materials response, and emergency services delivered through 33 strategically located fire stations serving incorporated cities and unincorporated areas of Ventura County.
• Fire Communications Center 24/7 dispatch center managing emergency calls, resource allocation, and GPS-enabled apparatus dispatch for rapid emergency response across Ventura County.
• Fire Stations Network 33 strategically located fire stations serving Camarillo, Moorpark, Ojai, Port Hueneme, Santa Paula, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, and unincorporated Ventura County areas.
• Ready, Set, Go! Program Emergency preparedness program providing residents with Ready (evacuation planning), Set (making preparations), and Go (evacuation execution) guidance for wildfires and disasters.
• CERT Training Community Emergency Response Team training program teaching volunteers disaster preparedness and basic emergency response skills.
• PulsePoint 911-connected mobile app alerting CPR-trained citizens to nearby cardiac emergencies and enabling community response, including AED registry for locating emergency defibrillators.
• Fire Hazard Reduction Program (FHRP) Cooperative defensible space program between VCFD and property owners to create and maintain fire-safe clearance around structures for firefighter defense and wildfire survival.
• Fire Prevention Bureau Plan review, inspection services, burn permits, Knox Rapid Entry System, Firewise USA coordination, and fire code enforcement for commercial and residential properties.
• Watch Duty Real-time wildfire information app and service providing access to current fire incidents, evacuation updates, and fire conditions across Ventura County.
• Ventura County Fire Academy 18-20 week intensive firefighter training academy preparing recruits for careers in fire service, including physical training, firefighting skills, EMS certification, and live fire exercises.
• Girls' Fire Camp Youth program introducing girls to firefighting careers through hands-on training, leadership development, and mentorship.
• Junior Fire Academy Youth program providing training and experience in firefighting fundamentals for young people interested in fire service careers.
• Community Education Safety education programs covering home fire safety, senior safety, kids fire education, bicycle repair stations, and various seasonal safety topics.
• Spark of Love Toy Drive Annual holiday toy drive partnership with ABC7 and Southern California fire departments to collect new toys for underserved children and teens.

Quantifiable outcome

• Thomas Fire: 281,893 acres burned, 1,063 structures destroyed, nearly 9,000 emergency personnel responded
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• CAL FIREcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2026VCFD is one of CAL FIRE's six Contract Counties. The department utilizes CAL FIRE technology (Vibrant Planet wildfire planning platform) for improved hazardous fuel reduction prioritization and measurement. CAL FIRE also conducts independent reviews of VCFD operations when requested.
• Southern California EdisoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 December 2017Power line company whose equipment was determined to have caused the Thomas Fire (December 2017). VCFD investigates and determines fire causes involving utility infrastructure.
• ABC7flagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerABC7 partners with VCFD and Southern California fire departments for the Spark of Love Toy Drive, now in its 31st year. The annual toy drive collects new, unwrapped toys for underserved children and teens in Southern California.
• PulsePoint FoundationcoreTechnology or IntegrationPulsePoint is a public 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation building applications that help public safety agencies inform and engage citizens. VCFD uses PulsePoint Respond and PulsePoint AED apps for real-time emergency information and AED registry.
• Adjacent Fire AgenciescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVCFD has mutual aid agreements with all adjacent fire agencies ensuring the closest available resources respond to emergencies regardless of jurisdiction.
• U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for TotsflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince 2016, the Southern California Spark of Love toy drive partnered with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program, which has been collecting and distributing toys since 1947.
• Ventura County Sheriff's OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint chaplain program serving both VCFD and Ventura County Sheriff's Office. 20 chaplains serve both agencies. Joint investigative teams for fire cause determination.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Alameda County Fire Department: County fire department serving unincorporated Alameda County and contract cities in the San Francisco Bay Area. Comparable in all-hazard delivery model, CAL FIRE coordination, and consolidated urban-wildland interface risk.
• San Francisco Fire Department: Municipal fire department providing fire, EMS, rescue, and wildfire preparedness services for the City and County of San Francisco. Comparable as a full-service California fire agency with overlapping technology adoption (PulsePoint, AED registries) and community preparedness programs.
• Kern County Fire Department: County fire department serving Kern County under a CAL FIRE Contract County arrangement similar to VCFD. Comparable in delivery model, regulatory framework, and exposure to large-scale wildland fire incidents.
• Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District: Special district fire agency providing all-hazard services to the Sacramento metropolitan area. Directly comparable as a special-district-governed, multi-jurisdictional fire agency with similar funding structure via property assessments.
• Riverside County Fire Department: Large Southern California county fire agency providing fire, EMS, and rescue services across unincorporated areas and contract cities. Directly comparable in scale, wildfire exposure, and contract-service delivery model.
• Santa Barbara County Fire Department: Adjacent county fire department serving Santa Barbara County with a comparable wildland-urban interface profile and similar all-hazard, full-service delivery model. Strong overlap in wildfire exposure and mutual aid geography.
• Orange County Fire Authority: A joint powers authority providing all-hazard fire and EMS services across Orange County, California. Comparable to VCFD as a regional, multi-municipality fire agency with consolidated command structure, contract member cities, and similar service portfolio.
• San Diego County Fire Authority: Regional fire authority serving San Diego County with structure closely parallel to VCFD — contract municipalities, CAL FIRE coordination, and broad all-hazard capabilities. Comparable in jurisdictional mix and wildland fire risk.

Broad incumbents

• Los Angeles County Fire Department: The largest county fire department in California, providing all-hazard fire protection, EMS, and hazardous-materials response across unincorporated LA County and 60+ contract cities. Directly comparable to VCFD as a full-service county fire agency in Southern California with mutual aid overlap.
• CAL FIRE (California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection): California's state-level wildland fire protection agency and direct partner to VCFD under the Contract County program. Operates statewide fire protection, wildfire response, and resource coordination — highly comparable in mission, technology stack (Vibrant Planet), and regulatory framework.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/vcfd
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCVsskUmN7TUq-lFsSnOAxcg
• Facebookfacebook.com/venturacountyfire
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vcfd
• Instagraminstagram.com/venturacountyfire

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ventura County Fire Department