Montecito Fire and LPFA Alert on Rattlesnake Bites, and More
Montecito Fire has done two rescues of people with snake bites in April so far. They are urging everyone to be vigilant.
Montecito Fire reports, “April 12, at 3:38 pm, the Montecito Fire Emergency Team responded to the Buena Vista Trail for an injured hiker who was reportedly bitten by a rattlesnake. The female hiker was approximately three-quarters of a mile up the trail when she was bitten on the ankle. She did not have adequate cell service to call 911 but was able to send a text to a loved one, who then contacted emergency services. Dispatchers were able to communicate with the patient as she made her way down the trail. Because she had a whistle, dispatchers instructed her to blow it repeatedly to help first responders locate her. Montecito firefighters, along with SB County Search and Rescue personnel, located the patient and transported her to the trailhead using a stokes basket and wheel. From there, she was transported to the hospital by AMR ambulance.
A previous incident had occurred on April 7, when “a 22-year-old female hiker was airlifted to a hospital Monday morning after being bitten by a snake on the Cold Spring Trail near Montecito Peak.”
The Los Padres Forest Association (LPFA) is alerting community that there is an increase in rattlesnake bites, seven so far this year, with snakes leaving their dens earlier than prior years due to warmer weather, even as more people are hiking, biking, and running with headphones on – making them even less aware of the snakes. Of the seven bites, two resulted in fatalities. Three of those bites occurred in the Los Padres: Rose Valley, Cold Spring Trail, and Buena Vista Trail. The LPFA advises hikers to stay aware, listen and look at your surroundings, and treat snakes with respect while out on the trails – adding that if you are bitten; stay calm, don’t move, and call for help.
In Other News
April 22 – 23: For Earth Day on April 22, the Ojai Ranger District is set to lead a trash and micro trash cleanup of Tar Creek, from 9 am to 2 pm. The next day, April 23, will see two projects undertaken. One will finish the work on the Ojai Wheeler Gorge Nature Trail; and the second will honor Patrick Lieske with a memorial cleanup at the Glass Factory on East Camino Cielo. Lieske was a Forest Service Biologist who passed away in 2024
May 1:The Seasonal Gates across the LP Forest are set to open on May 1. Due to the dry winter, a few gates have already opened for the season, and these include Santa Barbara Canyon Road, First Crossing, and the roads around Tecuya Ridge. Make sure to call the District Office to ensure gates are open before you make your way to your favorite trailhead. It is also reported that there is lots of water flowing in the creeks, streams, pools, and more in the backcountry.
May 6: Montecito Fire Blood Drive – in partnership with Vitalant Blood Donation Center – will host a community blood drive on May 6, 11 am to 3 pm at Montecito Fire Station 91, 595 San Ysidro Road. Sign up online.
LPFA reported in February ’26, it is currently over 125% of annual rainfall and trending to make it over 150% by the end of the season. LPFA is hiring temps for Forestry Tech staff in all five districts, apply online.
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