Edison Settlement Funds Repairs
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   June 11, 2020

As briefly mentioned in last week’s edition, construction began this week on additional repairs to roads and bridges affected by the Thomas Fire and the 1/9 debris flow. The projects, which the County announced last week, include the repair of 28 lane miles of road and the construction of a temporary bridge at the Cold […]

Insurance Renewal Latest
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   March 5, 2020

Later this month, the California Assembly Insurance Committee will hear Assembly Bill 2367 (AB2367), which was introduced on February 18 by Assembly Members Monique Limon from Santa Barbara County and Lorena Gonzalez from San Diego County. The bill would, in part, create a Wildfire Resilience Task Force, which would include the Insurance Commissioner, the Director […]

 

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More from Montecito

New Fire Code
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   February 27, 2020

Reps from the Montecito Fire Protection District were in front of Montecito Planning Commission last week outlining recent amendments to the District’s Fire Code. Fire Marshal & Battalion Chief Aaron Briner outlined the changes, which include changes to access road width and design, fire sprinklers requirements, emergency power systems, and more. Every three years, the […]

The Los Padres Crew
By Nick Schou   |   February 27, 2020

About four miles and 3,500 vertical feet uphill from the San Ysidro Trailhead, a Los Padres Forest Association (LPFA) work crew wearing hardhats printed in block letters with their names, are wielding hand hoes. They’re fixing a somewhat crumbling ridge dotted with small bushes and the scorched skeletons of small trees that burned in the […]

Ashley Road Bridge Reopens
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   February 13, 2020

Earlier this week the Ashley Road bridge reopened after being closed for more than two years following the catastrophic events of the 1/9 debris flow. This Thursday, February 13, a reopening ceremony will be held on the bridge at 10:30 am. “Each step in the recovery and rebuilding process is a reason to celebrate,” said […]

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 […]

Cal Fire Launches Parolee Program
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   January 23, 2020

If you’ve been up in the foothills of Montecito the last few weeks, you may have seen crews of men clearing out brush from our local hillsides as part of the Montecito Fire Protection District’s vegetation management program. For the last several years, the crews used to perform the work have been inmate fire crews […]

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  • Garet Blake, Firefighter and Paramedic, Montecito Fire Department
    By Beverlye Fead   |   January 2, 2020

    As much as my husband, Bob, and I love all our local firefighters, we have a special feeling for this particular member of the team, the reason for which will be revealed as you read down to the finish of the article. Blake was born and raised in Moorpark, California. His single mother, an emergency […]

    Montecito Fire Updates
    By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   October 31, 2019

    On Monday, October 28, the Board of Directors of Montecito Fire Protection District approved Resolution No. 2019-08, which calls for the establishment of a standing committee to explore mutually beneficial locations for new fire station locations in the jurisdictions of the Montecito Fire Protection District and the Carpinteria-Summerland Fire District. The Committee, called the Fire […]

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    Coast Village Circle Closures
    By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   September 26, 2019

    Paving work began on Coast Village Circle earlier this week; the beginning of a two-month long restoration project to rehabilitate the road following the 1/9 Debris Flow in January 2018. The Debris Flow caused major damage to the roadway on Coast Village Circle due to flooding and the presence of heavy equipment; the project will […]

    Neighborhood Fire Prevention Project
    By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   September 19, 2019

    Since 1994, the Montecito Fire Department has partnered with the community to prepare for the High Fire Season by reducing the density of vegetation along strategic portions of roadways as well as on private property. The intent of the Neighborhood Fire Prevention Project is to assist property owners in improving the defensible space around their […]

    Chief Hickman to Retire
    By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   May 30, 2019

    At a Montecito Fire Protection District board meeting last week, Montecito Fire Chief Chip Hickman announced his retirement in July. Before taking the role as Chief in 2012 as the successor of Fire Chief Kevin Wallace, Chief Hickman was a 21-year veteran of the MFPD, beginning his career in 1990 as one of the District’s […]

    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 […]

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