Ventura County Fire Department

With deep sorrow, the Ventura County Fire Department announces the line of duty death of Engineer Thomas “Tommy” James Daniel Minadeo at the age of 32. Engineer Minadeo dedicated his life to serving and protecting the community with unwavering commitment, professionalism, and heart. His bravery, dedication, and kindness left an indelible mark on those he worked alongside and the countless lives he touched. Minadeo joined the Ventura County Fire Department as a fire control worker in 2015. In 2017, he was hired as a firefighter, graduating from Academy 54. He was assigned to Truck 54 in Camarillo, Station 26 in Santa Paula, Station 31 in Thousand Oaks, Station 51 in El Rio, Station 55 in Camarillo and Station 53 in Port Hueneme. Tommy promoted to engineer in 2022 and served his final assignment at Station 45 in Simi Valley. Minadeo was diagnosed with job-related cancer last October and had been undergoing treatment. “Tommy was part of our fire family for nearly 10 years, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with us in response to our community’s public safety needs,” Fire Chief Dustin Gardner said. “We now stand with Tommy’s family in grieving his passing and supporting each other.”

We send our deepest condolences to Engineer Skinner’s family and our colleagues at OCFA, following his death in the line of duty.

Coming attractions: We'll be recruiting for a Fire Inspector II next month.

Today I’m reflecting on how grateful I am for our dispatchers, department, partners and our community. Last week we had an after action review (AAR) with FCC and California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) Emergency Command Center (ECC) Support Team 8 to review our cooperation during the Mountain Fire. The best part for me was when they referred to our staff and operations as “very impressive and very professional.” That is everything you want when you have a large-scale, fast-moving, long-duration, critical incident. In the first 4 hours of the incident, FCC dispatchers handled over 6 times as many 9-1-1 calls and 7 times as many total calls than usual for that timeframe. In the first 24 hours of the incident, FCC dispatchers handled over 3 times as many 9-1-1 calls and 4 times as many total calls than usual for that timeframe. They gave life saving instructions to our community while some of their own families were being impacted by the fire. Behind the scenes, our dispatchers and CALFIRE ECC Support Team 8 quickly ordered and mobilized over 2,800 personnel who staffed aircraft, crews, dozers, water tenders, engines, and provided incident and logistical support. On the radio, our dispatchers worked hand in hand with the IC and operations to coordinate response and relay critical information from 9-1-1 callers. Our GIS staff mapped the fire and were able to provide FCC with printed maps to better coordinate evacuations, response and communications with the various divisions/branches. Our CentralSquare Technologies CAD staff uploaded maps from our GIS division directly to CAD to make our dispatchers’ jobs easier. Industry partners RapidSOS reached out to us to see how they could support us. Ventura County Fire Department have been highly supportive of dispatch and dispatchers for decades (at least the 2 decades I’ve been there) in a way that has ensured our ability to succeed and thrive. Our community brought us coffee, snacks, food, bagels and most importantly, their support and acknowledgment of the critical work our dispatchers do behind the scenes to ensure public safety. Camarillo was heavily impacted the Mountain Fire with over 240 structures burned or damaged. It’s the city where I live. It is where FCC is located. It’s the place where I get to work with the some of the best dispatchers in the business, a great department and a supportive community.

🎄✨ The Holidays Are Here—Let’s Spark Some Love! ✨🎄 This season, we have the chance to brighten the holidays for over 33,000 children in need, including families affected by the recent wildfires, right here in our Ventura County community. 💝 Here’s how you can help: 🎁 Drop Off a new, unwrapped toy at any VCFD fire station, police station, or participating business. 💳 Donate Online to help us purchase gifts for local kids. 📦 Shop Our Registry and have a gift sent directly to Toy Central. Together, we can keep the Spark of Love Toy Drive shining brightly and create magical memories for kids who need it most. ✨ Let’s spread joy this holiday season! Learn more and get involved at www.vcfd.org/SparkOfLove. #SparkOfLove #HolidayGiving #VCFD #SpreadJoy

As the Mountain Fire in Ventura County transitions from active firefighting to recovery, Ventura County Fire Chief Dustin Gardner and CalFire Deputy Director of Communications and Emergency Incidents Nick Schuler, along with members of Incident Management Team 5, had the opportunity to brief Prince Harry the Duke of Sussex on our agencies’ response and next steps. We highlighted how Santa Ana winds often create explosive fire conditions, emphasizing the importance of timely and coordinated evacuation efforts. We also discussed the recovery actions underway to support affected residents and the proactive planning already in motion to address potential winter debris flow hazards. These collaborative efforts underscore our commitment to both immediate response and long-term community resilience. After a challenging few days for first responders, Prince Harry’s brief visit was appreciated by all.

Now Hiring: Fire Control Worker! Starting Salary $24.66 Hourly Fire Control Workers, under immediate supervision, cut and remove brush from roadsides, fire roads, and fuel breaks using hand and power tools; perform routine maintenance and janitorial duties at Fire facilities; perform manual tasks involved in fire control; respond to fire alarms and other emergency calls to protect life and property; occasionally work in hazardous conditions and perform related work as required. There are thirty (30) projected seasonal vacancies. VISIT: www.ventura.org/jobs

Now Hiring: Assistant Fire Chief Salary: $166,350.23 - $232,913.16 Annually Under the direction of the Deputy Fire Chief, directs activities and manages a bureau which may consist of one or more divisions, battalions and units, or a combination of those. The successful candidate will possess a strong management background demonstrating the ability to be agile in a very fluid environment with multiple priorities which can change quickly and require immediate attention. Some knowledge of large-scale incident management. The ability to establish positive working relationships with elected officials, local municipalities, the County Executive Office, and the civilian workforce. Analyze and prioritize operational, managerial, and program decisions; make difficult choices and recommendations; be able to communicate and support those recommendations clearly and succinctly. VISIT: www.ventura.org/jobs

VCFD is hiring Fire Control Workers. For information about the position, visit: https://lnkd.in/g-MRb2tc