At ETEC's CONNECT Series meeting in August, Ventura County Fire Division Chief Matt Falat gave a presentation on wildfire response near SSFL and emergency response in general. He also received an award for the department's efforts during the Sandy Fire.
Energy Technology Engineering Center
September 22, 2026
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Attendees at the recent Community Outreach, Neighbor Notifications, Engagement, Collaboration and Training (CONNECT) Series meeting hosted by the Department of Energy (DOE) had the opportunity to hear about wildfire preparedness and emergency response from a local fire chief.
Ventura County Fire Division Chief Matt Falat, a 24-year veteran of the department, gave an overview of wildfire response in general and in relation to the Santa Susana Field Laboratory (SSFL), where DOE previously conducted liquid metals and nuclear energy research at the Energy Technology Engineering Center (ETEC) in Area IV and is now tasked with cleanup.
He also talked about being part of the initial wave of resources to arrive on scene to fight the Sandy Fire that burned near the site in May.
“We responded in full force (and) because of how fast the fire was moving, we went to life safety (meaning get evacuations going and get people out),” Falat told the nearly 35 attendees at the August 12 meeting.
While the fire department successfully prevented the Sandy Fire from crossing onto SSFL, Falat estimated that the blaze came to about 500 feet from the property line and approximately 3,000-plus feet to any structures onsite.
Other topics covered included coordination with SSFL site partners, how incident command works and what happens when a call comes into the 911 system for everything from “chest pain or a medical problem all the way to . . . a major fire,” Falat said.
“It’s no secret that these fires are continuing to occur and they’re going to continue to occur because of the winds (and) the changed environment that we’re in right now,” he said.
“It’s our job to stay current with all of that and (work) collaboratively with the community. We build the relationships we’re building right now with the Department of Energy . . . prior to the emergency so the next one goes that much better and that’s ultimately the end goal.”
Melody Bell, acting director for DOE’s Environmental Management Consolidated Business Center, presented Falat with an award recognizing the fire department’s efforts.
“We really appreciate . . . what you and your team did (during the Sandy Fire and) want to present you with a special recognition... in gratitude for the rapid response, skill and dedicated efforts to protect the community and SSFL during the Sandy Fire 2026,” Bell said.
The August 12 presentation recording and slides are available on the CONNECT Series page.
Join the ETEC team for the next CONNECT tentatively scheduled for November 12.
Check the CONNECT Series page for upcoming sessions or topics. To suggest future topics or provide feedback, fill out the CONNECT feedback form.
-Contributor: Melissa Simon