Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Protection District Santa Run and Job Openings

The Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Protection District has two announcements for our town: their Annual Santa Run and a call for applications for Firefighter Paramedics and Firefighter EMTs.

Pat Cockrum, President of the Santa Barbara South Coast Firefighter Foundation, in conjunction with the Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Protection District, announces their 3rd Annual Santa Run on December 9. The Santa Run has the Carp-Summerland firefighters, their families, and volunteers walk the Carp-Summerland route, handing out candy canes and collecting presents for kids and cash donations in a firefighter boot. Santa Claus will be in his sleigh on top of Carp-Summerland FF Engine 61 with holiday lights and Santa helpers. Also in the Santa Run are antique fire engines and local politicians.

The route starts at 5 pm at the Linden Avenue beachfront in Carpinteria, down to Carpinteria Avenue, Casitas Pass Road, and stops at Carro Lane towards Via Real. Santa will arrive in Summerland at the Fire Department on Lillie Avenue around 6 pm and proceed through Summerland by way of Whitney Avenue to Banner Avenue and back to the Fire Department.

In an interview, Cockrum, who founded the Santa Run, shared: 

“Our mission is to support the citizens of Carpinteria and Summerland any way we can, whatever need arises. Our donations have gone to great organizations in the front country of Santa Barbara. Carpinteria Giving Tree and Santa Barbara Transition House have been valuable assets in our mission to support the community and get the presents we collect to families in need. Fill the boot funding is used to support our community events throughout the year where we make efforts to have family-oriented events without bringing financial burden to the community. Any funding goes towards the three pillars of our mission: supporting our community, your firefighters, and your fire department. We are grateful for any support our community can bring to help our cause. Whether Carpinteria or Summerland, we all stand together and support each other for the better of our community.”

With the toys donated, the cash funds local FF projects like sponsoring kids as junior lifeguards, teaching CPR in high schools, setting up at the annual Avocado Festival teaching kids how to safely do a rescue in a burning house, and many other year-round activities.

Join in the annual parade, grab a new toy and cash to donate, and look for Santa and his firefighter team on December 9!

In addition, the Carp-Summerland Fire Protection District has a few prized job openings. All interested need to apply by December 6. They are seeking to fill Entry Level and Lateral Positions for Firefighter Paramedics and Firefighter EMTS. The positions offer high-quality EMS training and working with the Wildland Firefighting teams and Water Rescue teams that cover the coastline.

For more info on employment and to apply, click this link!