(This story has been updated to include additional information including comments from Endaya.)
Ventura’s fire chief since 2014 will retire in December.
The city announced David Endaya’s decision in a Nov. 3 news release. The longtime fire chief said he is proud of the Ventura Fire Department’s accomplishments during his tenure.
“Serving the city of Ventura as fire chief has been one of the greatest honors of my career,” he said in the statement.
Endaya said his goal was to make it to 30 years of fire service, which he described as a standard in a public safety career. He’s also been the chief for 12 years, which is a long time for a department head.
“The retirement really is just my wife and I are ready to move on,” he said.
Endaya has guided the fire department through challenging environments, including wildfires and community emergencies, with courage, professionalism and compassion, said Mayor Jeannette Sanchez-Palacios in a text message on Nov. 4.
Endaya, 55, did not submit a formal retirement letter, said Emily Ayala, spokesperson for the city.
“After 31 years in the fire service, he feels this is a natural time to transition into retirement,” she wrote in an email on Nov. 4. “Chief Endaya’s future plans remain undecided, and he has shared that he is exploring options with his family and actually looks forward to a period without a set plan.”
Ventura will begin a selection process for the next chief in the coming weeks, according to the release.
The city will seek a chief who builds on Endaya’s leadership, Sanchez-Palacios said. “We will look for a leader who is innovative, collaborative and prepared to guide our city through changing fire risks and evolving emergency needs,” she said.
Endaya began his career in 1994 as an emergency first responder and joined Ventura Fire as an emergency paramedic in 1996. He will exit the agency in late December.
“I will always cherish the memories of visiting every station with my family each Christmas, personally acknowledging and sharing gratitude for the crews who were away from their loved ones,” Endaya said.
The chief led the department through the Thomas Fire in December 2017, the COVID-19 pandemic and a period of growth and modernization, city officials said.
Endaya launched the city’s paramedic squad program in January 2024, expanded staffing through a federal grant in August 2023 and secured equipment upgrades in March 2025. He advocated for an internal training academy in 2023 and was key in the planning and building of Fire Station No. 7, set to open in 2026, according to the city.
He was also instrumental in fundraising and constructing the Ventura County Fallen Firefighters Memorial.
The agency and its battalion chiefs are also facing a discrimination lawsuit filed last year by Melissa Corney. She’s accused the department of gender discrimination, retaliation, wrongful termination and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Endaya declined to comment on the suit saying the case is actively being litigated and “we’re handing it along with the city under the direction of our legal counsel.”
Endaya holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara and earned the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer designation in 2016 after completing the four-year program.
He said he makes approximately $284,000 in gross annual salary.
The Ventura Fire Department is staffed with 84 sworn personnel, seven in fire prevention and three professional staff, Ayala said.
This story may be updated.
Wes Woods II covers West County for the Ventura County Star. Reach him at wesley.woodsii@vcstar.com, 805-437-0262 or @JournoWes.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Ventura Fire Chief David Endaya to retire later this year
Reporting by Wes Woods II, Ventura County Star / Ventura County Star
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