Tag archives: fire department

Save Our Cattle and Other Letters to the Editor
By Montecito Journal   |   December 30, 2025

SOC (save our cattle) from horrible inhumane slaughter. Every time I drive up in the country, I enjoy seeing all the free-roaming cattle with their cute calves on the hillside. It’s nice to see happy cows while they are alive, knowing that eventually they’re going to end up on someone’s dinner table. I have an […]

A Towering Commemoration
By Montecito Journal   |   September 10, 2024

The Montecito Fire Department invites the community to join them for a 9/11 remembrance ceremony from 6:55 to 7:05 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 11. The Fire Department will host a gathering at Station 91 at 595 San Ysidro Road, as well as Station 92 at 2300 Sycamore Canyon Road. The event will include a bell […]

Community Pulls into the Station
By Christina Atchison   |   May 14, 2024

On Monday, May 6, Montecito Fire Department placed the new Engine 92 into service with the support of more than a hundred community members, including children from Cold Spring School and Montecito Union School. Kids hosed down the engine and dried it off before we ceremoniously pushed it into the apparatus bay at Station 92. […]

2023 In Review & Looking Ahead
By Christina Atchison   |   April 2, 2024

Before we close out the first quarter of 2024, Montecito Fire Protection District is pleased to share our 2023 Annual Report to reflect on our successes, challenges, and opportunities to further provide the Montecito community with exceptional service.  “This report serves as a comprehensive overview of our department’s achievements and ongoing commitment to ensuring the […]

Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Protection District Santa Run and Job Openings
By Joanne A Calitri   |   November 28, 2023

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 […]

Faulty Hydrant Causes a Fire Safety Conflagration on Padaro Lane
By Nick Schou   |   November 15, 2022

Unless you’re a dog, most of us never think about fire hydrants until you need one. Such was the case when Robin Donaldson, an architect for a residential renovation project on Padaro Lane in Carpinteria, applied for a routine building permit with the county. His plans had already been approved by the California Coastal Commission […]

MFPD Approves Evacuation Study
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   August 2, 2022

Last Friday, July 22, the Montecito Fire Protection District Board of Directors was given a presentation by Chelsea Richer of Fehr & Peers, a consultant company hired by the District to conduct an in-depth study of the District’s evacuation plan. The study took hundreds of hours over 10 months to complete and provided the District […]

The Small Home Upgrade That Could Save Your Home in a Wildfire
By Christina Atchison   |   May 3, 2022

Whether you are in the process of renovating your home or still in the planning and dreaming phase, your Montecito Fire Department has a project to add to your list – the vents.  Hear us out. Overhauling your vents may not be nearly as satisfying as a new kitchen, but having new vents could be […]

A Chat with the Fire Chief
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   October 13, 2020

As record-breaking wildfires affect millions of people across the state of California, we recently sat down with Montecito Fire Chief Kevin Taylor, who has been at the helm of the District for one year. From getting to know Chief Taylor and his family better, to learning about Montecito’s future fire and debris flow risk, we […]

Kitchen Fire at Coast & Olive
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   September 17, 2020

Coast Village’s newest bustling eatery, Coast & Olive at the Montecito Inn, has been closed for nearly a week following a kitchen fire on Saturday, September 12. Following a busy brunch service, staff started to notice a burning smell, and the Santa Barbara City Fire Department arrived on scene to investigate. With smoke developing above […]

Fire Chief Kevin Taylor Talks COVID-19 and Crazy Weather
By Nick Schou   |   April 30, 2020

When I first met Montecito Fire Chief Kevin Taylor last year, I remember asking him what the biggest challenge was facing his department. “The weather,” he told me, quickly adding that the sheer unpredictability of Montecito’s weather threats, be they fire or rain, made his job uniquely worrisome. This week, I caught up with Taylor […]

A Coronavirus Update from Montecito Fire Department Chief Kevin Taylor
By Nick Schou   |   April 2, 2020

Based on the rush of emergency supply hoarding that has gone on for the past few weeks, it seems reasonable to suggest that most Montecito residents weren’t exactly prepared for the COVID-19 crisis when it first hit two weeks ago. Fortunately for us, the Montecito Fire Department (MFD) has been preparing for the event for […]

MFPD Wins Award
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   February 6, 2020

The Wildfire Mitigation Awards committee has named the three recipients of this year’s Wildfire Mitigation Awards. These individuals and organizations have earned the highest commendation for innovation and leadership in wildfire mitigation for their outstanding dedication to solving many of the most complex challenges posed by wildfire; Montecito Fire Department joins Tri-Lakes United Methodist Church […]

Montecito Fire Welcomes New Battalion Chief
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   November 7, 2019

Montecito Fire Department welcomes new Battalion Chief, David Neels. “We are very excited to transition Chief Neels into our already excellent management team and look forward to drawing from his depth of knowledge as an emergency response professional,” said Montecito Fire Chief Kevin Taylor.  Chief Neels began his career in 1998 with the Santa Barbara County […]

New Fire Chief Sworn In
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   June 27, 2019

At a board meeting on Monday, June 24, the Montecito Fire Protection District Board of Directors appointed Division Chief of Operations Kevin Taylor as the next Fire Chief of the Montecito Fire Department. “I appreciate the faith and confidence the Board has placed in me to lead this fantastic organization,” Chief Taylor said to a […]

Letters to the Editor
By Montecito Journal   |   May 30, 2019

Let’s Percolate Several questions come into the Montecito Sanitary District (MSD) that need and deserve answers. So, let’s start. Q. My plumber told me that the Sanitary District no longer offers financial aid for private sewer lateral replacement/repair (pipe between house and the main sewer line). Is that true? A. The District does offer a […]

MFPD News
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   April 18, 2019

This week is National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, and the Montecito Fire Protection District would like to acknowledge and thank their dispatchers for their dedication, hard work, and amazing skills. “They are the heroes behind the scene, processing emergent and non-emergent calls for service on a daily basis,” said MFPD Communications Coordinator Jackie Jenkins.  The […]

MFPD Update
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   March 14, 2019

The Montecito Fire Protection District received the District Transparency Certificate of Excellence by the Special District Leadership Foundation (SDLF) in recognition of its outstanding efforts to promote transparency and good governance.  “This award is a testament to Montecito Fire Protection District’s commitment to open government,” said Fire Chief Chip Hickman. “The entire district staff is to […]

Fire Hose American Flag
By Lynda Millner   |   January 24, 2019

Donors, partners, and supporters gathered at the Santa Barbara Courthouse for an unusual dedication ceremony – a 7-foot-by-9-foot American flag made out of fire hose sourced from the Montecito and Santa Barbara fire departments and used in the Thomas Fire. It was made to honor the First Responders of the Montecito mudslides by retired Santa […]