Resources
A Wealth of Invaluable Resources
The VRFSC works tirelessly to safeguard people and protect the property of individuals and families living in Ventura County. To this end, we provide the latest resources and tools to learn about wildfires—and to better prepare for the next area wildfire event.
LIVE: ALERTS & INCIDENTS
STAY INFORMED
LIVE UPDATES
LIVE INCIDENT MAPS
Ventura County Office of Emergency Services
WATCH DUTY
ONLINE DASHBOARD & APP
VC Emergency - Updates provided by Ventura County Sheriff's Office of Emergency Services (OES) on evacuation zones, road and school closures, emergency shelters, large and small animal resources, and additional support, press conferences, etc.
2-1-1 Now - Disaster Information and Resources
Southern California Edison - Information about public safety power shutoffs, outages, and other power resources.
Watch Duty- Apple and Android app that monitors wildfires, power outages, and provides in time agency updates.
Social Media Resources
X
EVACUATION
Know what it means:
- Evacuation Warning: Be alert and prepare essential items to leave. Those with large animals and disabilities, or access and functional needs should leave at this time.
- Evacuation Order: Leave immediately
- Remember, you don’t have to wait for a warning or order to evacuate. If you feel unsafe, leave!
AIR QUALITY
Ventura County Air Pollution Control District - text/audio alert system for farmworkers to alert the farmworker community when air quality reaches unhealthy levels in areas of Ventura County due to wildfire smoke.
For English text alerts, text SMOKE to 855-522-0034. You will know you are signed up correctly if you receive this message.
For Spanish text alerts or Mixteco/Zapoteco audio alerts, text HUMO to 855-522-0034. You will know you are signed up correctly if you receive this message.
MENTAL HEALTH
Ventura County Health Care Agency - Crisis Hotline (866) 998-2243
CALL 2-1-1 - provides local communities with information and resources related to shelter, health care, food, utilities, mental health, legal, consumer and more.
Emergency Preparation
VC ALERT
Be Informed
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services aims to assist Ventura County residents in preparing for, responding to and recovering from a local disaster. By providing information about local hazards and step-by-step preparedness education and materials, Ready Ventura County supports whole community resilience.
Get Notified
Ventura County residents may opt-in to receive emergency notifications that deliver time-sensitive alerts when there is a threat to health or safety.
Stay Updated
Check incidents in real-time.
Ventura County Fire Dept
COMMUNITY WILDFIRE PREPAREDNESS
This award-winning, national program helps community members be Ready with preparedness understanding, be Set with situational awareness when fire threatens, and to Go, acting early when a fire starts.
Wildfires are now a year-round reality in Ventura County. This means that both firefighters and residents have to be on heightened alert for the threat of wildfire at all times. Firefighters train hard and make countless preparations to be ready for a wildfire. Residents, farmers, and ranchers all need to do the same. Successfully preparing for a wildfire requires you to take personal responsibility for protecting yourself, your family and your property.
Winter 2026 CERT Class Schedule
CLICK HERE TO CHECK THE VCFD WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION
Oxnard English CERT Class / Lead Instructor TBD and David Baizan
Location: Fire Headquarters EOC, 360 W. 2nd Street
CERT Coordinator: Candy Campbell, 805-385-7717, [email protected]
Apr 7 to May 12 6:15 to 9:15 PM
Drill TBD
Camarillo English CERT Class / Instructors: Pasqua and Hyatt
Location: VC Fire Dept Training Center 102 A Durley Ave Rm 6 Camarillo
CERT Coordinator: Heidi Zahrt, 805-383-5688, [email protected]
Mondays March 2-30, April 6 6:00 to 9:00 PM
Drill TBD
Simi Valley English CERT Class / Instructors: Micharl and Oatman
Location: Simi Police HQ / EOC 3901 Alamo St. Simi
CERT Coordinator: Shannon Johnson, 805-583-6263, [email protected]
Wednesdays, March 4 to April 8, 6:00 to 9:00 PM
Drill TBD
Ojai Valley CERT Class / Instructors: Ron Oatman
Kent Hall, Ojai Council Chamber, 111 W Santa Ana St. Ojai
CERT Coordinator: Brian Brennan, 805-654-2703, [email protected]
Thursdays, March 19 to April 23, 6:00 to 9:00 PM
Drill TBD
SCE's PSPS
Preparing for a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS)
In order to reduce the risk of wildfires, power utilities in Ventura County (Southern California Edison/PG&E) recently developed plans to shut down power during critical fire weather. During periods of extremely hot, dry, and/or windy weather, the Public Safety Power Shutoff Program (PSPS) can prompt multi-day power outages in many areas
A PSPS outage will last as long as the potentially dangerous weather conditions exist—plus the amount of time it takes for power company workers to inspect and repair their equipment in affected areas. Residents need to be prepared to endure a power outage lasting 3-5 days.
Actual frequency of PSPS events will depend on various weather and environmental factors, and each respective decision will be made with the most accurate assessment of situational awareness data and real-time information.
What does this mean for Ventura County residents?
Power outages deeply impact the whole community and can make it difficult for people to meet even their most basic needs. They may also present a wide range of additional challenges.
- Disruption of communications, water, air conditioning, and transportation
- Closure of retail businesses, grocery stores, gas stations, banks, ATMs, and more
- Food spoilage and water contamination
- Inability to use medical devices like oxygen concentrators, CPAP machines, and more
- Inability to use elevators, garage doors, electric gates and doors, and more
How can I prepare?
PSPS events and other power outages are never anything close to ideal. But you can take some smart steps to help make the outage experience more tolerable—and less stressful. Here are some helpful preparation tips and steps.
- Plan for any medical needs, like medications needing to be refrigerated or battery-dependent assistive technology and medical devices
- Build a Ready, Set, Go! emergency supply kit, including food, water, flashlights, a radio, fresh batteries, first-aid supplies, and cash
- Register with Southern California Edison or PG&E to receive up-to-date alerts. Login with your SCE.com User ID here.
- Sign up for Ventura County emergency alerts at VCAlert.org
- Identify backup charging methods for phones, such as USB power banks
- Learn how to manually open your garage door
- If you own a backup generator, make sure it’s safe to operate
- For additional PSPS resources, check out this fact sheet from prepareforpowerdown.com
PSPS Flyer: How to Prepare in Ventura County Volante de PSPS: Cómo prepararse para los cortes de electricidad en el Condado de Ventura
VCTC
Ventura County Transportation Commission
TRANSPORTATION EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PLAN
Provides a proactive strategy and roadmap for transportation response and recovery during emergencies for Ventura and Santa Barbara counties going forward.
Goals of the TEPP
-
-
- Develop an all-hazards transportation emergency preparedness plan
- Respond to the needs of the communities sooner and more effectively
- Create a blueprint for evacuation
- Improve transit agency management during disasters
- Develop a plan for disadvantaged and vulnerable populations
-
