Don McPherson is the City of Ventura’s new Fire Chief.

He is a 32-plus year veteran who has completed assignments in most disciplines within the Ventura Fire Department.  For the last three years Don has served as Assistant Chief.

Don began serving the local community at the age of 15 when he worked in the Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) in Rose Valley and then at Point Mugu State Park. He also did seasonal work with California State Parks and started with the Ventura City Fire Department as a reserve in 1980 at the age of 18.

Don has served as a Fire Engineer in 1987, Fire Captain in 1991, Battalion Chief in 2002 and has been Acting Chief since the retirement of former Chief Kevin Rennie this past June.

Born and raised in Ventura, Don lives in Ventura with his wife and two children; his daughter—a senior at Dartmouth College and a son—a freshman at CSU Channel Islands.