Tag archives: Montecito Fire

The 7th Annual Raising Our Light Ceremony
By Joanne A Calitri   |   January 21, 2025

For the 7th year, the lives of the 23 Montecito residents who lost their lives in the 2018 mudslides were honored in a solemn ceremony, Raising Our Light, on Thursday, January 9, outside in the Montecito Union School parking lot.  There, with the Montecito Fire Department Engine as backdrop, was the podium for the speakers […]

Raising Our Light: Montecito Comes Together for the 7th Anniversary of the Debris Flow
By Zach Rosen   |   January 14, 2025

January 9th, 2018, is a night that Montecito will never forget, yet nature has provided some unwanted reminders. In 2023, heavy rains, flooding, and evacuations all took place on the very day of the 5th anniversary of the tragic Debris Flow in Montecito that took 23 lives. Even now, as the community prepares for the […]

San Ysidro Ranch Delivers Its Thanks
By Montecito Journal   |   December 10, 2024

This past Thanksgiving, SYR’s talented culinary team donated a turkey dinner to Montecito Fire to show its appreciation for their ongoing and incredible support of the community. “In the spirit of giving thanks, we wanted to show our gratitude to the local heroes of Montecito Fire by preparing a full Thanksgiving spread. Our talented chefs […]

MFPD Board At-Large: Q&A with the Candidates
By Montecito Journal   |   October 22, 2024

As the concern for wildfire is a major topic in the area and considering the role that the Montecito Fire Protection District (MFPD) plays in our community, the Montecito Journal wanted to reach out to each of the five candidates running for the three open seats in the November 5th general election. The MFPD is […]

Montecito Fire Department launches new Website
By Christina Atchison   |   August 20, 2024

Montecito Fire Department is pleased to present our new website, montecitofire.com. We have revamped our website to better serve our community. This includes a new Wildfire Preparedness StoryMap, a dynamic webpage with informational videos, interactive maps and helpful resources.  We developed this StoryMap as an alternative to our Wildfire Preparedness Community meetings. We heard your […]

Montecito Fire Protection District Seeking Admin Assistant
By Montecito Journal   |   August 13, 2024

The Montecito Fire Protection District is actively recruiting for an Administrative Assistant, deadline to submit applications is August 14, online applications only.  The ideal candidate will be a highly organized, detail-oriented, team player with strong written and oral communication skills, proficient with technology, and willing to learn new skills and applications. The ability to quickly […]

Annual Firewood Chipping and Vegetation Removal for Montecito, Summerland, and Carpinteria
By Joanne A Calitri   |   May 21, 2024

The Montecito Fire Protection District has five final chipping dates now through July: May 28: Arcady, Knapp, Cowles, Cottage, El Rancho, Sky View, Lanai Rd June 10: Sierra Vista, Nicholas, Ridge View, Canyon View, Sycamore Vista, Ranchito Vista, Calle Elegante, Calle Hermosa, Crest View June 24: East Mountain (100-1600 blocks), Irvine, Brooktree, Upper Hot Springs […]

Montecito Fire Department to Host Community Push-In Ceremony for New Engine 92
By Montecito Journal   |   May 7, 2024

The Montecito Fire Department is hosting a community event on Monday, May 6, at 4 pm to celebrate the arrival of their newest fire engine, Engine 92. The event will take place at Fire Station 92, located at 2300 Sycamore Canyon Road in Montecito, and will feature a traditional push-in ceremony where firefighters and community […]

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 […]

Montecito Association Board March Meeting
By Joanne A Calitri   |   March 26, 2024

The Montecito Association held its monthly Board meeting March 12th in person at the Montecito Library and via zoom.  Community Reports began with Police Chief Lt. Ugo Peter “Butch” Arnoldi on the resolution of investigations and reported crime in the area. Montecito Fire Chief David Neels reported on the last storm, stating the area did […]

Bus Fire Shuts Down Highway 101
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   September 26, 2023

At about 6:40 pm on Saturday, September 16, Montecito Fire responded to a bus fire on Highway 101 southbound near the Sheffield Drive exit. The driver of a tour bus noticed something was wrong with the vehicle, pulled over and evacuated the approximately 30 passengers and their luggage. The engine compartment of the bus caught […]

Don’t Let the Wet Winter Fool You… The Threat of Wildfire is Always There
By Christina Atchison   |   July 11, 2023

After a record-setting rain season and months of mild weather, the threat of wildfire may seem like less of a concern for the Santa Barbara County South Coast this year. As we celebrated the red, white, and blue over the past week, temperatures rose significantly for the first time in 2023. No matter how much […]

Montecito Association’s Latest
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   June 20, 2023

At Tuesday’s Montecito Association Board of Directors meeting, Montecito Fire Chief David Neels announced that a new temporary fire station south of the freeway is opening in Montecito this week, in response to the community-wide traffic congestion currently occurring.  “We are concerned about emergency access due to construction, and we are augmenting our emergency response […]

Montecito Association Meets
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   April 4, 2023

At a rescheduled board meeting last Wednesday, April 22, the Montecito Association Board of Directors met to discuss the upcoming Board of Supervisors meeting in which the Board will consider two appeals of the widening of Highway 101 related to the removal of sound walls from the project.  The Montecito Association Board voted to send […]

A Message from the Montecito Fire Chief Reflecting on 2022
By Kevin Taylor   |   February 21, 2023

On behalf of the Montecito Fire Protection District, it is a pleasure to share our 2022 Annual Report with our community. Over the past year, our organization experienced meaningful growth, identified opportunities for improvement, and realized significant accomplishments.  A noteworthy change in 2022 was the full return to engaging with our community in-person after the […]

Montecito Fire Chief to Retire
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   February 21, 2023

Earlier this week, Montecito Fire Chief Kevin Taylor announced his upcoming retirement from the Montecito Fire Department after 35 years of service. Chief Taylor has served as fire chief since 2019; his last day at the helm will be March 31. “This career has been the honor of my life,” Chief Taylor told us during […]

New Wildfire Cameras Will Spot Fires on the Santa Barbara Front Country
By Christina Atchison   |   December 13, 2022

If you are looking for an unobstructed, panoramic view of the Santa Barbara South Coast, there are few better vantage points than from TV Hill. The back patio of KEYT News Channel’s newsroom has been the setting of annual Unity Telethons and countless news reporter live shots.  Flames also licked up the TV Hill hillside […]

Montecito Association Meets
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   October 18, 2022

During community reports at this week’s MA meeting, Montecito Union School’s Anthony Ranii said the school’s largest fundraiser, the MUS Carnival, is slated for October 22. The fundraiser for the MUS Foundation raises funds to enhance the school’s academic, athletic, and arts programs; enrich the student experience with technology, curriculum, and improved classroom resources; and […]

The Building Blocks of Fire Prevention
By Christina Atchison   |   October 18, 2022

What comes to mind when you think of the month of October?  Probably, the color orange. Perhaps, a pumpkin. However, for local firefighters, the arrival of fall conjures up something else orange – wildfire.  The spring and fall months on Santa Barbara’s South Coast can be both the most spectacularly beautiful and the most treacherous.  […]

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 […]