Ignore firefighter fundraising fraud

The Ventura County Fire Department wants to alert county residents to a fraudulent enterprise in the area soliciting funds for the benefit of firefighters injured fighting the Zaca Fire.

None of the agencies involved in fighting the Zaca Fire- including the Ventura County Fire Department and the U.S. Forest Service- has authorized any fundraising activities, officials said.

"Speaking for all the firefighters who have been working the Zaca Fire, we're very grateful for the support the public has shown us," said Capt. Barry Parker, information officer for the Ventura County Fire Department, "and we don't want to see our citizens victimized by unscrupulous criminals using a tremendous firefighting effort to defraud them."

Any resident receiving a call, letter or email soliciting funds for injured firefighters is urged to call their local police agency or the fire department.