Ventura County Fire to Host Ribbon Cutting and Open House for New Live Fire Training Complex in Camarillo

The Ventura County Fire Department, joined by community leaders, elected officials, and regional partners, will officially open its new live fire training complex with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at the Ventura County Fire Training Complex in Camarillo.

The event will provide attendees with an opportunity to tour the department’s newest state-of-the-art firefighter training facilities designed to support realistic, hands-on emergency response training for Ventura County firefighters and partner agencies throughout the region.

The new training complex includes two purpose-built live fire training buildings and “Ladder Land,” a dedicated ladder training prop designed to prepare firefighters for real-world emergencies in a safe, controlled environment. Constructed to NFPA 1403 standards, the complex supports realistic fire suppression, rescue, ventilation, search-and-rescue, firefighter mayday, and incident command training scenarios.

This addition to the 22-acre regional training complex features 17,833 square feet of indoor training space, more than 8,000 square feet of exterior training space, 32 configurable training rooms, numerous rope rescue and vertical training props, and approximately one-half acre of concrete drill grounds. The facility supports approximately 50 firefighters training simultaneously and can accommodate nearly a dozen concurrent training evolutions at one time.

Building A is specifically designed for live fire training utilizing Class A combustibles, including wood pallets and other traditional fuel sources. The three-story structure contains 11 configurable training rooms and provides realistic heat, smoke, and fire behavior conditions for firefighters operating in interior structural firefighting environments.

Building B utilizes propane-fueled fire systems to provide controlled, repeatable live fire training scenarios. The three-story structure contains 21 configurable training rooms and supports advanced fire behavior simulations and rapid scenario reconfiguration for multiple operational disciplines.

Together, the buildings provide firefighters with realistic, scenario-based training opportunities that replicate the challenges encountered on emergency incidents. The facilities support interior fire attack, search and rescue operations, firefighter mayday and rapid intervention, thermal imaging, roof ventilation, hose deployment, self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) training, and command operations.

The state-of-the-art facilities include temperature-monitored burn rooms, smoke-generating systems, realistic audio effects, roof ventilation props, forcible-entry props, and dozens of configurable doors and windows that create immersive training environments while maintaining strict safety standards. These features allow firefighters to train under realistic heat, smoke, and stress conditions while enhancing operational readiness and firefighter safety.

The complex also features “Ladder Land,” a four-story ladder training prop designed to enhance ground ladder deployment and truck company operations. The structure includes 20 window openings and allows firefighters to practice ladder placement, victim rescue, ventilation, firefighter egress, and coordinated multi-story rescue operations in a safe and controlled setting.

“This training complex represents one of the most significant investments in firefighter preparedness in our department’s history,” said Ventura County Fire Chief Dustin Gardner. “These facilities allow our firefighters to train under realistic fire, smoke, and rescue conditions every day of the year while maintaining a safe, controlled training environment. The result is better-prepared firefighters, stronger regional partnerships, and ultimately a higher level of service for the communities we protect.”

Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony, attendees will rotate through four guided tour stations highlighting the realistic training opportunities available at the new complex. Tour stops will feature Class A live fire training, a Class B center-hallway and garden-style apartment fire simulation, a propane-fueled vehicle fire demonstration, and a strip mall live fire training evolution.

Event Details:

Who: Ventura County Fire Chief Dustin Gardner, local elected officials, community leaders, and partner agencies
What: Ribbon Cutting Ceremony & Open House – new live fire training complex
When: Wednesday, June 24, 2026
9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Where: Ventura County Fire Training Complex
102 Durley Ave.
Camarillo, CA 93010

The ceremony will begin promptly at 9:00 a.m., followed by a ribbon-cutting photo opportunity with fire officials and dignitaries. Guided tours of the new training complex will begin immediately following the ceremony.

The approximately $32.5 million project represents a long-term investment in firefighter training, safety, and regional preparedness, ensuring firefighters can train year-round under realistic emergency conditions while providing a safer alternative to acquired structure burns.

For more information, please contact the VCFD Public Information Office at (805) 389-9769.