THOUSAND OAKS — The Ventura County Fire Department today announced the appointment of Kylie Tillema as its new Fire Marshal. In her new role, Tillema will lead the department’s Fire Prevention Bureau, overseeing fire code enforcement, construction plan reviews, fire and life safety inspections, permit administration, and the Ventura County Fire Department’s nationally recognized Fire Hazard Reduction Program. She will also work closely with residents, businesses, developers, and partner agencies to reduce wildfire and fire risks through proactive prevention, education, and code compliance.
“Kylie brings outstanding technical expertise, proven leadership, and a deep commitment to public safety,” said Fire Chief Dustin Gardner. “Her experience in fire prevention, code enforcement, and community risk reduction, combined with her passion for developing future fire service professionals, makes her an exceptional addition to our leadership team. Fire prevention is one of the most effective ways we protect our communities, and I am confident Kylie will help us continue building a safer, more resilient Ventura County.”
Tillema brings more than a decade of progressive leadership experience in fire prevention, fire code enforcement, and community risk reduction. Most recently, she served with the Riverside County Fire Department, where she advanced from Deputy Fire Marshal to Assistant Fire Marshal. In that role, she led fire prevention programs, supervised staff, and collaborated with developers, businesses, and partner agencies to strengthen public safety through code enforcement and hazard mitigation.
“Community risk reduction is about working alongside residents, businesses, and our partners to identify and reduce hazards before they become emergencies,” said Tillema. “I’m honored to join the Ventura County Fire Department and look forward to protecting the communities we serve through prevention, education, and collaboration.”
Before joining Riverside County, Tillema served as the contract Fire Marshal for the City of Beaumont, where she managed fire prevention programs, plan reviews, inspections, public education, and code compliance initiatives.
In addition to her fire service career, Tillema serves as Associate Faculty in the School of Public Safety at Moreno Valley College, where she teaches and mentors future fire service professionals. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Columbia Southern University and an Associate of Science degree in Fire Science from Crafton Hills College.
The Ventura County Fire Department employs nearly 650 personnel and serves as the primary provider of fire protection, rescue, and emergency medical services throughout most of Ventura County, including the cities of Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, Moorpark, Ojai, Santa Paula, and Port Hueneme, as well as the county’s unincorporated communities. Department personnel respond to more than 56,000 emergency calls each year.
For more information about the Ventura County Fire Department, visit www.fire.venturacounty.gov