Lessons from Montecito
By Nick Masuda   |   December 21, 2021

Joan Hartmann, the Santa Barbara County Third District Supervisor, didn’t even hesitate when asked why a portion of her district was evacuated with the Monday and Tuesday rain along the South Coast. “We learned a lot from Montecito,” Hartmann said. In the wake of October’s Alisal Fire that destroyed thousands of acres of land, the […]

Alisal Fire is a Sobering Reminder of Lurking Dangers
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   October 19, 2021

At this month’s Montecito Association Board Meeting, the Board of Directors touched on many community topics, including fires, crimes, transportation, the holidays, and more.  During community reports, Montecito Fire Chief Kevin Taylor, reporting from the front lines of the Alisal Fire, said the 13,000-acre fire (as of press time) was a good reminder for everyone […]

 

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Prepare Now to Protect Everyone You Love
By Christina Favuzzi   |   September 21, 2021

The serenity of the South Coast provides a sense of security that the next major disaster is unlikely to happen here. Yet, we only need to look a few pages back in our local history to know the potential for disaster in our quaint community is significant. Preparedness is a formidable and proactive defense to […]

From Fires to Budgets, New LPNF Ranger & LPF Director Dish on Current Obstacles
By Joanne A Calitri   |   September 14, 2021

A month into his position as the Los Padres National Forest (LPNF) Santa Barbara District Ranger, Daryl Hodges is now dealing with the statewide Los Padres National Forest closure due to fire prevention and mitigation, with support directed to the Caldor Fire. That, along with decreased staffing and his entire budget focused on fire prevention, […]

This Should Be Fire: One805 Returns
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   September 7, 2021

After a long 18 months of attempting to execute a follow-up event to its widely successful Kick Ash Bash following the Thomas Fire and 1/9 Debris Flow, local nonprofit One805 has announced a smaller scale donor appreciation event, slated for September 18. The special event, which is limited to 350 people, will be held at […]

End of Summer Surprise with One805
By Montecito Journal   |   September 2, 2021

Ready to rock ‘n’ roll for a good cause? Join The Santa Barbara Firefighters Alliance and One805, the local nonprofit that brought us the 2018 Kick Ash Bash, for a donor appreciation event to support our First Responders currently on the frontlines of California’s wildfires. Special guests include Robby Krieger of The Doors and top […]

Fire Smoke Drifting In; Housing Bills Facing Opposition
By Sharon Byrne   |   August 31, 2021

In the past few weeks, you may have noticed a smoke smell in the air and greyer skies. That’s wildfire smoke drift coming into the area. If you watch the Purple Air site (purpleair.com), you can zoom in or out to monitor air quality conditions in our area and across the state. Our Air Pollution […]

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  • Paying it Forward as the West Faces Gnarly Fire Season
    By Christina Favuzzi   |   August 24, 2021

    Fire season across the West is off and running, already setting records and causing people to put their evacuation plans into action as flames threaten their homes. With your help, it’s a reality we are optimistic we can prevent in Montecito. Yet, we all must stay on guard for the possibility of wildfire in our […]

    Are You Ready? Have Things Set Up? Because You Will Never Know When it’s Time to Go.
    By Christina Favuzzi   |   June 17, 2021

    Those three little words…  No. Not “I love you.” We do love you but we’re talking about: Ready! Set! Go!  They are three little words that can make a life-or-death difference if you choose to take them seriously, now. What is a wildfire action plan and what does it mean for those of us in […]

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    Wildfire Season is Upon Us: Here’s How Montecito Fire Can Help You Prepare
    By Christina Favuzzi   |   May 27, 2021

    High fire season is officially underway for the South Coast. It’s easy to feel worried when looking at the parched brush, dramatically lacking rainfall totals, and concerning forecasts for warmer temperatures and impending sundowner winds. However, worry is not an effective method for survival. Instead, your Montecito Fire Department is focused on educating and preparing […]

    Big Problems Call for Big Solutions
    By Sharon Byrne   |   May 13, 2021

    High fire season in Santa Barbara County started on May 3, with California coming off a record-setting year. According to the Santa Barbara County Fire Safe Council (SBCFSC), a total of 9,639 fires burned some 4.4 million acres of land, making 2020 the largest wildfire season recorded in the state’s modern history. The 2021 fire […]

    It’s Personal: Hometown Girl Now Charged with Informing Area About Fire Safety
    By Christina Favuzzi   |   May 6, 2021

    As spring nears an end, many of us look forward to warmer weather, backyard barbeques, lazy beach days, and the innate relaxation of the summer season. Yet, the transition to summer comes with a layer of uneasy anticipation.  After studying fuel conditions and weather predictions, the local fire jurisdictions of Santa Barbara County have declared […]

    Struggling with Homeowner’s Insurance?
    By Sharon Byrne   |   October 29, 2020

    Revelations From the California Insurance Commissioner’s Marathon Virtual Hearing The good news from the pandemic: the state has learned how to do Zoom. We no longer have to trek to Sacramento to work with state officials; we can now do it from our living rooms. Direct democracy in action! We met Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara last […]

    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 […]

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