Dispatch Services for Montecito & Carpinteria-Summerland

If you have called 9-1-1 while in Montecito, Carpinteria or Summerland over the last 48 years, you would have been linked to a small but mighty dispatch center located within Montecito Fire Station 91 on San Ysidro Road. 

The South Coast Dispatch Center provided full-time dispatch services for Montecito Fire Department starting in the fall of 1977. 

Prior to that, dispatching for Montecito Fire was handled through the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center. When calls came in, sheriff’s dispatchers would phone our fire stations, and it was our own firefighters who would then dispatch and respond. This process, while functional, led to concerns about delays and inefficiencies.

Recognizing the need for a more dedicated system, the Montecito Fire Protection District Board of Directors approved the hiring of three full-time dispatchers in April 1977. The following November, Diane Lind, Doris Peterson, and Barbara Berger became the first official dispatchers for the district. It was a historic step forward for Montecito Fire.

South Coast Dispatch was staffed by three full-time dispatchers, one assigned to each of our three shift battalions. Additionally, a dozen Montecito firefighters served as part of the Dispatch Cadre, adding depth and resilience to South Coast’s operations as essential back-up dispatchers. 

Over the center’s nearly 48 years of operations, 31 individuals served as South Coast dispatchers. 

South Coast Dispatch answered and coordinated approximately 4,000 calls per year for both Montecito and Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Protection Districts. 

Now, nearly a half century after South Coast became a fully staffed dispatch center, it is once again time to improve our services to match the growing, complex needs of the local community. 

In 2021, the fire chiefs from across the Santa Barbara County area moved forward with the concept of building and staffing a Regional Fire Communications Center to improve response times, optimize resources, and enhance service for all residents. 

The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the development of the Regional Fire Communications Center.

That small but mighty South Coast Dispatch Center is now out of service following the successful transition to the Regional Fire Communications Center on May 13, 2025. 

“While bittersweet, we are proud of this step forward, aligned with our department’s mission to be a progressive organization that provides professional and timely response to our community’s needs,” said Montecito Fire Chief David Neels. “At the same time, we pause to reflect on the legacy of South Coast Dispatch and the incredible people who made it what it was.”

Should you need to dial 9-1-1, your call will now be taken by a robust team of dispatchers at the Regional Fire Communications Center who have enhanced capabilities to assign the closest available resources. This will lead to shorter response times and better outcomes when seconds absolutely matter. 

Calls to Montecito Fire Department’s non-emergency line, (805) 969-7762, are now answered by administrative staff during regular business hours. After hours, callers may leave a voicemail, or connect with an answering attendant if immediate attention is needed. In an emergency, please dial 9-1-1.