Ventura Fire Gets $4.07 Million FEMA Grant for 11 Firefighter-Paramedics, Hiring Planned for 2027

VENTURA — October 26, 2026. Ventura’s Fire Department has received a $4.07 million federal SAFER grant to hire 11 additional firefighter-paramedics, city officials announced October 20. The City Council accepted the FEMA award on October 6, making the funding decision more than an unapproved application.

How much will the staffing expansion cost?

The three-year staffing plan totals approximately $6.6 million: $4.07 million in federal assistance and an estimated $2.53 million city contribution. The award period begins March 24, 2027 and runs into March 2030. The authorization would raise department staffing to 92 full-time positions and support round-the-clock paramedic response capacity.

What the grant does—and does not—guarantee

FEMA approved hiring 11 new positions, but the city’s announcement says it expects to begin filling them when the grant period starts. That means the positions should not be described as 11 staff members already deployed today. The department says additional personnel should help it respond when simultaneous calls strain available crews, including mutual-aid response in Ventura County.

Ventura officials say the new award builds on an earlier SAFER award funding 13 positions through February 2027. The separate grants have different program years and should not be counted as 24 new firefighters hired this October.

Primary source: Ventura Fire Department, October 20, 2026. Find recruitment and departmental updates through the official Ventura Fire website.

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