On Friday, February 6, Montecito Fire District Chief David Neels honored three fire fighter team personnel for their dedicated service. They are Division Chief of Operations Anthony Hudley for his five years of service with Montecito Fire, as well as Battalion Chief Shaun Davis and Captain-Assistant Fire Marshal Bob Galbraith, who both celebrated 15 years […]
Knowing who to call in an emergency – or any situation where help is needed – can make a significant, and in some cases, lifesaving difference. In the event of an emergency or any need for a response from the Montecito Fire Department, EMS or law enforcement, please remember to dial 911 or send a […]
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On November 13, 2008, a wildfire started near a Montecito property known as the Tea Gardens. The Tea Fire was first reported at about 5:45 pm. Strong sundowner winds with gusts up to 85 miles per hour reignited smoldering embers of an illegal bonfire from the night before. At the time, Montecito Fire Marshal and […]
Montecito Fire District Chief Neels and his teams have kept busy with Fire Prevention Week visits to local schools and water-rescue training off Butterfly Beach. He is also reminding residents that it’s time to start preparing for the 2026 Neighborhood Chipping Program by clearing vegetation that could put homes or businesses at risk. The Carpinteria–Summerland […]
The California Board of Forestry (BOF) is closing in on Governor Gavin Newsom’s December 31 deadline to finalize new regulations that focus on clearing combustible materials within the first five feet of structures. “Montecito Fire Department has been keenly aware and engaged in Zone Zero discussions over the past five years,” said Montecito Fire Chief […]
Jorge’s nephew is a curious kid who wants to know stuff. That bodes well for the youngster growing up to be an interesting adult. One day, though, he stumped his uncle with a fairly straightforward question. “What’s your job, uncle Jorge?” East Camino Cielo Road in the Los Padres National Forest is the northernmost boundary […]
This month, Santa Barbara County public safety officials are joining together to highlight National Preparedness Month with a countywide theme of “Preparedness Starts with You.” Community members are encouraged to take simple proactive steps to protect themselves, their families, pets, and neighborhoods before the next emergency incident occurs here. “Our community knows firsthand how suddenly […]
Within California’s high fire hazard areas, Zone Zero is defined as the first zero-to-five feet extending away from any structure. In the coming months, the California Board of Forestry will decide what you are allowed to have in this space nearest your home. If you live in Montecito or Santa Barbara between the Santa Ynez […]
The Montecito Fire Department held a Wildfire Preparedness Community Meeting at Montecito Union School on June 26, less than a week before California’s largest fire of 2025 broke out in Santa Barbara County. Montecito Fire sent an engine and several specially trained personnel to assist with managing the Madre Fire near Cuyama. Evacuations spanned rural […]
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Montecito Fire Dept. Chief Neels shares to the community, “On June 26, 2025, our partners from Montecito Water District, Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management, Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, neighboring fire agencies, and local community organizations joined us to discuss how your public safety agencies collaborate before, during and after emergencies.” The meeting […]
Westmont has welcomed a herd of sheep to campus to eat non-native vegetation and reduce wildfire fuel in the barranca west of Voskuyl Library, adjacent to the dry Westmont Creek. Coordinated by Montecito Fire, the flock from Cuyama Lamb will eat their fill before the grasses dry out later this summer and have the potential […]
Despite the June gloom that is frequently obscuring our skies, the risk of wildfire looms. In coordination with all fire departments in Santa Barbara County, Montecito Fire Department declared the start of High Fire Season on June 2, 2025. As part of our routine preparation for peak fire season, Montecito Fire Department will host a […]
MFD Chief Neels celebrated Captain Jeff Villarreal and Engineer Eric Klemowicz for their sons, Jacob and Ethan respectively, having graduated Allan Hancock College’s Fire Academy Battalion 155. Part of the celebration was the photo op in front of Montecito Fire Dept’s retired Engine 192, which MFD donated to Allan Hancock College’s Public Safety Training Center […]
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 […]
