Category: Public Safety

Nov. 16 — Bilingual report — Fallen Firefighters to be Remembered at Ventura County Memorial

by Community Contributor • January 1, 2022 • Comments Off

The fire agencies of Ventura County will honor firefighters who lost their lives in service to our community during the annual Fallen Firefighters Memorial remembrance Wednesday, Nov. 16, at 10 a.m.

“We are fortunate that no new names are being added to the list of the fallen this year,” Ventura County Fire Chief Dustin Gardner said. “And we continue to remember all those who gave the ultimate sacrifice while working to keep others safe.”

The outdoor ceremony at the Ventura County Government Center recognizes all firefighters who died in the line of duty, whether from traumatic injury or job-related illness. The memorial represents all seven fire agencies serving the county, including Ventura County, Oxnard, Ventura City, Federal Fire, Fillmore City, CAL FIRE and the U.S. Forest Service.

CSUCI Nursing alumnus saves the life of a mother of two

by Community Contributor • December 16, 2021 • Comments Off

CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Nursing alumnus Claire Gillette had just finished a 12-hour shift in the emergency room at Los Robles Regional Medical Center in Thousand Oaks, and she was exhausted. Did she have enough energy for a yoga class before going home?

“I work night shift and I never take that class after a shift because I’m tired, and it’s hot yoga with weights,” Gillette said. “But there was a spot open in the class and I thought ‘I’m feeling into the weights.’”

Had Gillette not joined the class on that particular day, and had she not been prepared with nursing skills she learned at CSUCI, the husband and two sons of Erika Cole, 44, would be spending the holidays without her.

“Claire is the only reason I’m alive today,” Cole said.

Bilingual report — Consulado de Mexico en Oxnard: Control de Armas, Persona del Año 2021 – ¡Vote ahora! / 2021 Arms Control Person of the Year – Vote Now!

by Community Contributor • December 14, 2021 • Comments Off

The illicit arms trade is a subject of the utmost interest for Mexico and the entire Latin American region due to the violence that this activity brings about. Despite the specific national contexts, the violence caused by arms trafficking has consequences of great magnitude on the quality of life of our populations, as well as, on the development of our countries.

In that regard, last August, the Government of Mexico filed a lawsuit, before a United States federal district court against manufacturers and distributors of firearms, for negligent commercial practices that promote arms trafficking to our country. It is important to point out that the litigation is not against the U.S. government nor against the right of U.S. citizens to own and bear arms in their country (Second Amendment of its Constitution). The aim is to prevent criminal groups from benefiting from this illicit trafficking, that is, the drug cartels who do not have the right to possess and bear arms.

Assemblymember Irwin announces Legislation on Organized Retail Theft Prosecutions

by Community Contributor • December 14, 2021 • Comments Off

Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (D – Thousand Oaks) joined Ventura County Sheriff Bill Ayub and Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko this morning to announce her plans to introduce legislation to respond to the recent occurrences of brazen organized retail theft in California.

“We have all seen the news accounts of store clerks being pistol whipped, shoppers being pepper sprayed, and thieves using sledgehammers to threaten anyone in their way,” shared Assemblymember Irwin. “I will not wait out this holiday season and let these organized groups continue to believe they can prey on California shoppers and retailers with no repercussions.”

Santa Barbara First District Supervisor Das Williams — Evacuation Order for Alisal Burn Scar Area & Storm Details

by Community Contributor • December 13, 2021 • Comments Off

Supervisor Joan Hartmann, who represents the area that recently burned in the Alisal Fire, recently sent out information to her constituents regarding an Evacuation Order that has been issued for the Alisal Fire burn scar. From Supervisor Hartmann:

“Meteorologists and emergency personnel continue to track an intense winter storm expected to arrive in Santa Barbara County around 6 pm tonight. This storm is expected to bring periods of heavy rain and high winds through Tuesday morning.

Rainfall totals could exceed 1″ or more per hour, which exceeds the thresholds for possible debris flows in the Alisal burn area.

Given these rainfall projections, the Sheriff issued an evacuation order for the Alisal burn area which went into effect at noon today. The Sheriff is going door-to-door to inform residents about the evacuation and to educate residents about storm related risks. The Sheriff, Fire Department and Public Works Department are all stationing emergency resources and staff to respond to this upcoming storm.”

Ventura County Fire Department & Thomas Aquinas College Create New Helispot for Area Firefighting & Rescue

by Community Contributor • December 8, 2021 • Comments Off

A newly installed helispot on the campus of Thomas Aquinas College got its first use Tuesday afternoon as the Ventura County Fire Department (VCFD) trained a crew in advanced firefighting techniques using one of its recently purchased Sikorsky Firehawk helicopters.

“The new helispot at Thomas Aquinas College – less than a mile from where the 2017 Thomas Fire started — greatly aids our firefighting abilities in the Santa Paula area,” Fire Chief Mark Lorenzen said. “We no longer need to fly our helicopters to Fillmore to fill water tanks. That means we can put more water on a fire while it’s small, giving it less time to spread.”

Bilingual report — Dec. 6, 2021 – COVID-19 Update

by Community Contributor • December 6, 2021 • Comments Off

Since Friday, there are 623 new COVID-19 cases reported and 15,079 new tests performed. There are 45 people hospitalized, 7 in the ICU. There have been no additional deaths reported. The R-effective for Ventura County is 1.12 which means the spread is likely increasing.

California Department of Public Health Omicron Fact Sheet
Find a COVID testing location
Get a COVID vaccine or booster shot
Get a copy of your digital vaccine record

76.6% of community members (ages 5+) have received one or more COVID vaccine doses.
70.0% of eligible community members have been fully vaccinated.
76.4% of community members 12+ have been fully vaccinated.

Stay informed at www.vcrecovers.org.

Bilingual report — Dec. 3, 2021 – COVID-19 Update

by Community Contributor • December 3, 2021 • Comments Off

Since Wednesday, there are 147 new COVID-19 cases reported and 20,462 new tests performed. There are 38 people hospitalized, 8 in the ICU. There have been 2 new deaths of a 44 year old female and a 68 year old male. Our thoughts and sincere condolences to the loved ones of those that have passed away. The R-effective for Ventura County is .86 which means the spread is likely decreasing.

California Department of Public Health Omicron Fact Sheet
Find a COVID testing location
Get a COVID vaccine or booster shot

76.4% of community members (ages 5+) have received one or more COVID vaccine doses.
69.7% of eligible community members have been fully vaccinated.
76.3% of community members 12+ have been fully vaccinated.

Stay informed at www.vcrecovers.org.

POOLCORP Donates $70,000 To Southeast Ventura County YMCA’s Water Safety Program

by Community Contributor • December 2, 2021 • Comments Off

The Southeast Ventura County YMCA received a $70,000 grant from POOLCORP to help fund the Y’s Safety Around Water (SAW) program and current and future lifeguard training.

POOLCORP made the donation at the Yarrow Family YMCA in Westlake Village on November 22.

Bilingual report — Dec. 1, 2021 – COVID-19 Update

by Community Contributor • December 1, 2021 • Comments Off

A confirmed case of the Omicron variant is in California. Californians can protect themselves by getting vaccinated and boosted, wearing a mask, getting tested if they have any symptoms and staying home if sick. Get the facts about the Omicron variant here: bit.ly/omicronvariant

CSUCI Borderline remembrance and bench dedication ceremony

by Community Contributor • November 29, 2021 • Comments Off

CSU Channel Islands(CSUCI) alumnus Jessica Webb was a sophomore the night of Nov. 7, 2018, when she and her friends went out dancing at the Borderline Bar & Grill.

It was an ordinary Wednesday night and Webb and her friend decided to relax and unwind at the country western-themed bar, a favorite place for many CSUCI students.

At about 11:15 p.m., Webb, then 18, was standing by the pool tables across from the dance floor when she turned and saw the shooter walk into the bar about 20 feet away from her.

“I froze. There is a fight, flight or freeze response and I froze,” she said. “A man screamed “Get down!” and I crawled under the pool table. I later found out that man was Cody Coffman.”

Fire Safety in the Kitchen Will Keep This a Happy Thanksgiving

by Community Contributor • November 23, 2021 • Comments Off

With shopping and preparations underway for Thanksgiving dinners with family and friends, the Ventura County Fire Department reminds everyone to practice fire safety in the kitchen when the cooking starts.

Cooking is the leading cause of Thanksgiving Day fires, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s National Data Center. Also, the National Fire Protection Association reports that two thirds of home cooking fires start with the ignition of food or other cooking materials.

“Kitchens can get busy and distracting when family and friends gather for big, holiday meals,” Fire Chief Mark Lorenzen said. “The extra hustle and bustle add to the risk of a mistake that can ruin more than a celebration. We want you and your family to enjoy the holiday safely.”

Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office Seeking Help on Unidentified Male

by Community Contributor • November 22, 2021 • Comments Off

The Medical Examiner’s Office is requesting the Public’s help in identifying a deceased male found in Oxnard on November 9, 2021. Please see attached Press Release.

Fallen Firefighters to be Remembered at Ventura County Memorial

by Community Contributor • November 16, 2021 • Comments Off

The fire agencies of Ventura County will honor four firefighters who lost their lives to job-related illnesses during the annual Fallen Firefighters Memorial remembrance Wednesday at 10 a.m.

The outdoor ceremony is being limited to families and invited guests of the firefighters being honored with COVID precautions in place due to the continuing pandemic. A livestream will be available on our Facebook page for others who would like to watch.

Reducing Wildfire Risk in Santa Barbara County — Partners Develop a Regional Priority Plan to reduce risk and improve ecosystem health

by Community Contributor • November 10, 2021 • Comments Off

As the region becomes increasingly vulnerable to fire due to extreme drought and heat conditions exacerbated by climate change, community leaders and organizations have come together to proactively address fire risk in Santa Barbara County. For over a year, a dedicated team, which included the Cachuma Resource Conservation District, LegacyWorks Group, Community Environmental Council, McGinnis Environmental and Conservation Biology Institute engaged numerous partners in the fields of fire protection, education, environmental stewardship, restoration, land management, agriculture, neighborhood associations and government leadership. Together, the partners identified fire risk reduction opportunities and developed a suite of project ideas. Nearly 200 potential projects were identified and 50 high impact opportunities were prioritized addressing:

Bilingual report — Ventura County Health Officer extends indoor face covering order and issues criteria for lifting order

by Community Contributor • October 18, 2021 • Comments Off

The Ventura County Public Health Officer has extended the indoor mask order, requiring all individuals, regardless of vaccination status, to wear face coverings when indoors in public settings, with limited exceptions. “The order is necessary to reduce the rate of community spread and to reinforce the need for safe interactions. We will continue to monitor transmission rates, hospitalizations, deaths and vaccination rates throughout the County,” said Public Health Officer Doctor Robert Levin.

Santa Barbara First District Supervisor Das Williams — Alisal Fire Update & Air Quality Watch

by Community Contributor • October 12, 2021 • Comments Off

I know many are concerned about the growing Alisal Fire. The Board of Supervisors today proclaimed a local emergency and requested the Governor declare a state of emergency.

Below I am sharing information Third District Supervisor Joan Hartmann shared earlier today in addition to other recent updates.

The Alisal fire has burned 7,500 + acres, with zero percent containment. There are 800 firefighters responding. Information about evacuations orders and warnings are available below.

Highway 101 remains closed between Highway 1 and Winchester Canyon Road/Cathedral Oaks in both directions. Highway 154 is the alternate route, however expect significant delays on this route.

Please visit https://readysbc.org/alisal-fire/ for status updates on the fire, evacuation zones and road closures. En Español: https://readysbc.org/es/alisal-fire/

Grant Program Championed by Assemblymember Irwin to Seize Weapons from Prohibited Persons Announces Open Application Window

by Community Contributor • October 11, 2021 • Comments Off

California Attorney General Rob Bonta today announced the opening of the application period for Gun Violence Reduction Program grants. Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin led a coalition of over 20 of her colleagues in the Assembly to secure this funding in the 2021 Budget Act. Funding will be awarded by the California Department of Justice (DOJ) to county sheriff’s departments to support activities related to seizing weapons and ammunition from individuals prohibited from possessing them.

Bilingual report — Civil Grand Jury in Session – Public Complaints Welcome

by Community Contributor • September 30, 2021 • Comments Off

The Ventura County Civil Grand Jury is a panel of 19 local citizen volunteers established to investigate complaints about government mismanagement, verify that public funds are properly accounted for and legally spent, and investigate the policies, practices and processes of county or city departments in order to improve the efficiencies and effectiveness of our government.

Civil Grand Jury investigations can be generated from public complaints. If you have a complaint about county government, cities and special districts (school and water districts, etc.), you are encouraged to file a complaint any time. All complaints are kept confidential.

Lifeguard Certification Course Offered at Triunfo Family YMCA

by Community Contributor • September 23, 2021 • Comments Off

The Southeast Ventura County YMCA is offering a Red Cross lifeguard certification course at its Yarrow Family YMCA branch Saturday and Sunday, September 25 and 26. The two-day program will be held in the Yarrow Y’s indoor pool (31105 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Westlake Village). Class hours are 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Participants must be able to attend both days.

The lifeguard certification class will take place in and out of the pool to practice real-life scenarios. Class members will be trained in CPR/Automated External Defibrillator use and first aid. They will receive the skills to prevent, recognize and tend to injuries until EMS arrive.

Santa Barbara First District Supervisor Das Williams — Celebrating National Drive Electric Week & More!

by Community Contributor • September 21, 2021 • Comments Off

Celebrate National Drive Electric Week by attending an Electric Vehicle 101 webinar, e-biking webinar, Goleta or Oxnard EV showcase, or other virtual or live event. As a long-time electric vehicle driver, I can attest to the many benefits of owning an electric vehicle: significantly lower fuel and maintenance costs, various rebates, incentives, and tax credits, and of course reducing your greenhouse gas emissions! See below for some ways to engage and learn more about electric vehicles:

Following Robbery of Senator Boxer, CDAA Calls for Withdrawal of Dangerous Theft Legislation

by Community Contributor • July 28, 2021 • Comments Off

There was nothing petty about what happened to former U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer yesterday—it was a violent robbery, and it was awful. This crime occurred in broad daylight in Oakland’s Jack London District, a popular tourist destination that also happens to be in the California Senate District of Senator Nancy Skinner. The same Nancy Skinner who proposed declaring such horrific crimes misdemeanor petty thefts under SB 82.

Bilingual report — Ventura County Aviation Unit announces addition of ‘Firehawk’ helicopters

by Community Contributor • May 20, 2021 • Comments Off

The Ventura County Aviation Unit, a joint operation of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office and the Ventura County Fire Department, announce the arrival of its two new “Firehawk” helicopters today, just in time for fire season.

The helicopters are former military Blackhawk helicopters that were converted for public safety use. They are equipped with a 1,000-gallon belly tank to drop water on fires, a rescue hoist, and night vision technology.

“These new Firehawks are an important addition to the Aviation Unit’s fleet,” Fire Chief Mark Lorenzen said. “They can carry almost three times as much water as our Vietnam-era ‘Huey’ helicopters, which significantly enhances our ability to fight wildfires and keep them small.”

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