Tag archives: fire prevention

Mighty Fire Breaker Non-Toxic Fire-Retardant System
By Joanne A Calitri   |   August 6, 2024

The MJ was asked to the installation and testing of the Mighty Fire Breaker MFB-31 Citrotech®system. The test took place at a Bella Vista Drive estate in Montecito on Wednesday, July 24. This is the first location in our town to install the fire-retardant system. When I arrived, Steve Conboy, Founder, President and Chief Technologist […]

Citizen’s Suggestion Brings a Safer Montecito
By Gwyn Lurie   |   December 13, 2022

This week, Montecito became a little safer. On page 14 you can read about the ALERTCalifornia camera just installed on TV Hill that will provide 24/7 “eyes” on the Santa Barbara Front Country and eventually alert firefighters to new fire starts using artificial intelligence technology.  But before you read about this exciting and potentially lifesaving […]

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.  […]

Wildfire Expo: Getting Wise Around Fire
By Jeff Wing   |   May 10, 2022

Frankenstein’s monster perhaps said it best: “Fire bad.” This is a capable summation but lacks actionable detail — and here in the celebrated Wildfire State, actionable detail is what it’s all about. Fortunately, the good people of Santa Barbara County’s Firesafe Council are hosting a three-day event that promises not just to fill the gaps […]

Montecito Fire Protection District Presents 2021 Annual Report
By Christina Atchison   |   January 18, 2022

As we step into 2022, Montecito Fire would like to share with the community our 2021 Annual Report. In it, we detail our successes and challenges in all aspects of our organization, from day-to-day operations to wildfire prevention work and community engagement. We encourage you to learn more about your Montecito Fire Department by reading […]

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, […]

Paying it Forward as the West Faces Gnarly Fire Season
By Christina Atchison   |   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 […]

Thank you, Montecito
By Christina Atchison   |   July 22, 2021

Thank you to everyone who cut back overgrown vegetation to make your community safer from future wildfires. Thank you for hauling your branches and brush to the curb, for welcoming our chipping crews to your neighborhood and for taking initiative to protect your home ahead of fire season. Now in its 22nd year, Montecito Fire’s […]

Rebuilding & Recovery Update
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   December 31, 2020

Also at MPC last week, County planner Joe Dargel gave an update on the rebuilding following the Thomas Fire and 1/9 debris flow, nearly two years after the debris flow damaged or destroyed 631 structures in Montecito, and took the lives of 23 members of our community.  When the County first took stock of the […]

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 […]

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
By Montecito Journal   |   October 17, 2019

“Problem Solvers” Do It Again We had it all: the beautiful ocean along our coast, the great weather, the clean land and the beautiful new and growing economy. We could walk to school, to the store by ourselves and never thought anything would go wrong. We had new shopping centers and movie theatres that sparkled. […]

Putting Out The Fires
By James Buckley   |   October 3, 2019

Last week, Kelly Mahan Herrick‘s feature “Village Beat” piece laid out in detail how Southern California Edison plans to cut off power to certain areas depending upon wind strength and the level of danger Santa Ana and/or Sundowner winds pose to those in fire zones. As a follow-up, I conducted a short interview with Santa […]

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 […]

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 […]