Thomas “Tommy” James Daniel Minadeo. Courtesy photo.
THOUSAND OAKS — With heavy hearts, the Ventura County Fire Department announces the line of duty death of Engineer Thomas “Tommy” James Daniel Minadeo.
Minadeo, 32, from Ventura was diagnosed with job-related cancer last October and had been undergoing chemotherapy before his death Friday, March 7.
“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 mother, Diana Minadeo; fiancé, Vanessa Gubbels; brother, Anthony; and his sister, in grieving his passing and supporting each other.”
Structure fires, hazardous materials incidents and other emergencies expose firefighters to numerous chemicals and toxins that significantly increase their risk of job-related illnesses compared to other jobs.
“Firefighters work in a dangerous profession. We know the risks and we go anyway because we share a commitment to protect our community,” Gardner said. “That doesn’t make it any easier when you lose a good firefighter, family member and human being like Tommy Minadeo.”
An Honor Guard has been assigned to stand watch with Minadeo and his family until a to-be-scheduled memorial service is held. Peer support services are being provided to the family and to any firefighters who need them. Flags have been lowered to half-staff at all fire stations and all sworn personnel will wear mourning bands over their badges until the memorial service concludes.
Full honors for Minadeo’s memorial service and burial are available to his family, including a procession of fire engines and fire engines lining the procession route and overpasses.
Minadeo joined the Ventura County Fire Department as a seasonal fire control worker in 2015. The following year, he became a year-round fire control worker. In 2017, he was hired as a firefighter, graduating from Academy 54. He was assigned to Truck 54 in Camarillo, then worked at Station 26 in Santa Paula, followed by Station 31 in Thousand Oaks, Station 51 in El Rio, Station 55 in Camarillo and Station 53 in Port Hueneme. He was promoted to engineer in 2022 and served his final assignment at Station 45 in Simi Valley.
During an incident, engineers drive the fire engines and ladder trucks to the scene, then operate pumps, ladders and other equipment needed as part of the response.
Minadeo was active in many training cadres, including ladders, hose and wildland.
Minadeo was a graduate of Royal High School in Simi Valley and Oxnard Community College, where he earned an associates degree in fire sciences.
Minadeo’s interest in the fire service started early. He participated in the Fire Cadet program with VCFD in 2010, was a Wildland Explorer with the Angeles National forest from 2010 to 2012, and worked with the Little Tujunga Hotshots from 2013 to 2014.