Ventura County Sheriff's Department

In the wake of Thomas Fire, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office reminds residents that charity and home repair scams often follow disasters. The Sheriff’s Office warns people about urgent appeals for charitable donations, and cautions residents in stricken areas about fraudulent home repair offers. The scammers often play on the emotions of people especially during major incidents.

If you are asked to make a charitable donation to help people in disaster affected areas, consider these tips:

Donate to charities you know and trust.

Be alert for charities that seem to have sprung up overnight.

Do not give out personal or financial information including your credit card or bank account number unless you know the charity is reputable.

Never send cash by mail.

Be suspicious of random calls requesting a donation.

Be cautious about clicking on links in emails requesting a donation.

Check out a charity before you donate by contacting the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance at 703-276-0100 or at website www.give.org

Remember, fraudsters also target disaster affected areas, hoping to cash in on insurance settlements. Home and business owners who need to hire a contractor should:

Check the contractor’s identification and references.

Verify the contractor’s license though the State Contractors Board at http://www.cslb.ca.gov/

Ask for copies of the contractor’s general liability and worker’s compensation insurance.

Avoid paying more than the minimum in advance.

Deal with reputable people in your community.

Call local law enforcement if you suspect a con.

For more information on giving to victims of the Thomas Fire you can contact the below charities:

Ventura County United Way - http://vcunitedway.org/ or by calling (805) 485-6288.
Salvation Army - http://www.salvationarmy.org/ or by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY.
American Red Cross - http://www.redcross.org/ or by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

Mandatory evacuations for the following areas:

Area encompassed by Hall Road on the west, Sespe Creek on the east, Highway 126 on the south, and Las Padres National Forest on the north.

Evacuation Center - Santa Paula Community Center - 530 West Main Street in Santa Paula.

Incident hotline 805-465-6650

http://www.readyventuracounty.org for more info.

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

Voluntary evacuations are now in effect for the following areas near city of Fillmore:

Sespe Creek on the west, Fillmore City limits on the south, Burson Ranch Road on the east, and the Los Padres National Forest boundary to the north.

Residents within those boundaries should be prepared to evacuate immediately. They should have valuables packed and be ready to leave when notified to do so.

People with mobility restrictions or in need of assistance should call 911 if they need help evacuating the area. Those requiring assistance should make arrangements to leave now.

Residents evacuating from the Fillmore area can go to the Santa Paula evacuation shelter at the Santa Paula Community Center at 530 W. Main Street in the city of Santa Paula.
Instructions:

Evacuate to the Santa Paula Community Center at 530 W. Main Street in the city of Santa Paula