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Not to be confused with Santa Barbara City Fire Department.
Santa Barbara County Fire Department
Operational area
Country  United States
State  California
County Santa Barbara
Agency overview [1]
Established1926 (1926)
Annual calls13,461 (2021)
Employees239 (2015)
Annual budget$102,153,500 (2021)
StaffingCareer
Fire chiefMark Hartwig
EMS level ALS & BLS
IAFF2046
Facilities and equipment
Battalions3
Stations16
Engines21
Tillers2
Quints1
Ambulances5
Tenders4
HAZMAT1
Wildland14
Bulldozers3
Helicopters3
Light and air1
Website
Official website
IAFF website

The Santa Barbara County Fire Department (SBCFD) provides fire protection and emergency response services for the unincorporated areas of Santa Barbara County, California, and for multiple cities within the county. Together, these areas compose the Santa Barbara County Fire Protection District. [2]

In addition to the unincorporated areas of Santa Barbara County, the department also services the communities of Santa Barbara, Goleta, Isla Vista/ UCSB campus, Santa Ynez, Santa Maria, Los Alamos, Casmalia, Lompoc (via automatic aid agreement), Solvang, New Cuyama, and Buellton. In addition they cover parts of the Los Padres National Forest, The majority of the Santa Barbara Coastline, substantial open space reserves, and many private ranch communities. The Santa Barbara County fire Department is a contract county with the California State Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Under the terms of the contract, the Fire Department is responsible for suppression of fires on SRA "State Responsibility Area" for CalFire.

The hills above Santa Barbara that comprise the Santa Ynez Mountains are a unique challenge on the California coast as they cause an effect known as the sundowner winds, which are very similar to the Santa Ana winds seen in nearby Santa Ana, California.

History

The SBCFD was initially founded on April 5, 1926. [2] In 1974, Santa Barbara launched the paramedic program which placed trained paramedics at station 11 to work alongside the firefighters. [3]

In 2020 (Effective 1/1/2020) Numbering Changes were made due to anticipated consolidation of regional dispatch services. For that, Station numbers 18, 22, 41 and 51 were changed to 38, 26, 27 and 34. Additional, overhead personnel and special units got new numbers and the auxiliary (reserve) engines were given 1xx series designations. There is a 3rd, "Central" Battalion now. Unknown, if this has been changed in the same timeslot.

Equipment

Engine 18, a Type 1, sits in a parking lot in Buellton.
Engine 331, a Type 3, sits in a parking lot in Buellton.

Type 1 Engine

Each of the 16 stations serviced by SBC FD are equipped with at least one Type 1 engine. The engines have the ability to pump 1,500 GPM and carry 500 gallons of water as well as 25 gallons of foam. For moving the water the engines carry over 2000 feet of hose in various diameters and over 100 feet of ladders. Each engine also has a set of the " Jaws of Life" as well as various other power tools, rescue gear and hand tools for both urban and brush fires. They also have medical equipment on board for medical responses. [4]

Trucks

Truck 11 during a training drill
The nozzle on the ladder of Truck 11

As of 2014, Santa Barbara County has 3 aerial ladder trucks 1 front line located at Station 11 as well as an auxiliary ladder truck. The second truck is located at Station 30 in Solvang. The truck weighs 74,000 pounds (34,000 kg) and features a 100-foot (30 m) ladder and a pump that produces 1,250 GPM. The pump is connected to a nozzle at the top of the ladder allow water to be sprayed onto a fire from above. Besides being set up for fire fighting, the truck is also configured for technical, trench and confined space rescue responses and also has medical equipment for medical responses. Along with the standard ladders and hoses, the truck also carries cutting torches, chainsaws, ropes, air bags and various other tools. The truck automatically responds to all technical rescues, vehicle accidents and structure fires in Battalion 1. [5]

Helicopters

The Santa Barbara County Air Support Unit (ASU) is made up of two Bell UH-1H "Huey"s. [6] The helicopters are jointly operated by the Fire Department and the Santa Barbara Sheriff's Office. Located at the Santa Ynez Airport adjacent to the Station 32, the ASU will often travel with a Rescue Paramedics from Station 32 when a medic is necessary. The helos are fitted for both hoisting of personnel for a rescue and for dropping of water during a fire. The underside can also be fitted with water dropping tanks that carry 320 gallons of water and have the ability to pump water from a reservoir or other water source or they can be filled on the ground with fire hose. [7]

In October 2020, Santa Barbara County announced that a 2004 Sikorsky HH-60L “Blackhawk” helicopter had been purchased and would go into service in 2021. [8] The helicopter was purchased with County funds and Fundraising from Direct Relief International (DRI) that resulted in raising a total donation of $1,151,000.

In March 2022, United rotorcraft delivered the finished, modified H-60 "FireHawk" to Santa Barbara County. The modifications include a belly mounted water tank of approx. 1000 gals, new avionics, communications gear, rescue hoist and configuration for aeromedical evacuations. [9] The modifications are similar to those made to LA County, Ventura, San Diego and CalFire H-60s.

Water Tenders

Santa Barbara County uses two different types of water tenders, two tactical and two supply units. The tactical units feature 4x4 capabilities and carry 1,500 gallons of water. They are specifically designed to carry water inside of a vegetation fire incident. These tenders are located at Station 22 in Orcutt and Station 32 in Santa Ynez. The supply units can carry 3,200 gallons of water to easily accessible areas. These are located at Station 18 in Gaviota and Station 41 in Cuyama. [10]

Rescue Ambulance

The SBCFD has four Rescue Ambulances (RA) deployed around the county. Santa Barbara County was at the forefront of the firefighter/paramedic introduction to the industry. [11] Although the primary Advanced Life Support (ALS) provider for the county is the private ambulance company American Medical Response (AMR), there are areas in which the county provides both dedicated ALS coverage and patient transport to hospital facility. The vehicles are based on the Ford modular-style ambulance outfitted with advanced life support capabilities. Cardiac Monitors and Defibrillators,Cardiac Drugs,Intubation and Airway Supplies and other equipment are carried on the Rescue Ambulances. There are a total of five RAs throughout the county, two are located at Station 17 servicing UC Santa Barbara, two are at Station 41 in New Cuyama and one is at Station 51 in Vandenberg Village. In addition to medical emergencies, the RA will also respond with an initial assignment to any structure fire or multi-engine calls. [11]

Stations and apparatus

Battalion 1

Battalion one, or South Battalion, consists of stations 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 17. Adjacent to station 11 is the office and quarters for the Battalion Chief serving Battalion 1. The designations for the South BC are 10 (A-shift), 12 (B-shift) and 14 (C-shift). [12]

Fire Station Number City Engine Company Truck Company Rescue Units Wildland Units Other Units
11 Goleta Engine 11 Truck 11

Truck 111 (Reserve)

USAR 11, Water Rescue 11, Battalion 1, Rescue 11
12 Goleta Engine 12 Engine 312
13 Santa Barbara Engine 13 Engine 313 Utility 13
14 Goleta Engine 14 Engine 314
15 Santa Barbara Engine 15 Engine 315 Utility 15
17 UCSB Engine 17 Rescue 17
Rescue 217		 Utility 17, Water Rescue 17

Battalion 2

Battalion two, or North Battalion, consists of stations 21, 23, 24, 26, and 27. Adjacent to Station 24 is the office and quarters for the Battalion Chief serving Battalion 2. The designations for the North BC are 11 (A-shift), 13 (B-shift) and 15 (C-shift). [13]

Fire Station Number City Engine Company Medic Units Wildland Units Other Units
21 Orcutt Engine 21 Engine 321
23 Sisquoc Engine 23 Engine 323 Utility 23
24 Los Alamos Engine 24 Engine 324 Utility 24, Battalion 2, Dozer 1, Dozer 2
26 Santa Maria Engine 26 Engine 326 Utility 26, Water Tender 26
27 New Cuyama Engine 27 Medic 27
Medic 127		 Engine 327 Utility 27, Water Tender 27

Battalion 3

Battalion three, or Central Battalion, consists of stations 30, 31, 32, 34 and 38. The designations for the North BC are 16 (A-shift), 17 (B-shift) and 18 (C-shift).

Fire Station Number City Engine Company Medic Units Wildland Units Other Units
30 Solvang Engine 30 Engine 330 Utility 30
31 Buellton Engine 31 Engine 331 Utility 31, HazMat
32 Santa Ynez Engine 32 Engine 332 Utility 32, Water Tender 32
34 Vandenberg Village Engine 34 Medic 34
Medic 134		 Engine 334
38 Gaviota Engine 38 Engine 338 Water Tender 38, Utility 38, Breathing Support 38

Gallery

  • Battalion Chief 514 oversees the drill.
    Battalion Chief 514 oversees the drill.
  • Battalion Chief 514 oversees the drill.
    Battalion Chief 514 oversees the drill.
  • Engine 14
    Engine 14
  • Truck 11
    Truck 11
  • Engine 14
    Engine 14

Notable Incidents

Refugio oil spill

Main article: Refugio oil spill

On May 19, 2015, the SBCFD responded around 11:40am to a report of a strong smell of oil coming from the area of Refugio State Beach. [14] Crews found a ruptured 24 inches (61 cm) line with crude oil running into the Pacific Ocean. The department stated the spill went into a culvert that ran under the U.S. 101, and into the ocean. [14] Representatives from Plains All American Pipeline stated that at the time of the spill the pipeline was operating at maximum capacity with a rate of 2,000 barrels per hour (84,000 US gal/h). [15]

References

  1. ^ "Budget for Fiscal Years 2014-15 & 2015-16". Santa Barbara County Budget. pp. D91–D104. Archived from the original on 16 March 2015. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  2. ^ a b "About SBCoFD". Santa Barbara County Fire Department. Archived from the original on 31 December 2013. Retrieved 29 December 2013.
  3. ^ "SB Paramedic Program". Archived from the original on 15 January 2014. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  4. ^ "Type 1 Engine" (PDF). Santa Barbara County Fire. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 February 2015. Retrieved 29 December 2013.
  5. ^ "Truck" (PDF). Santa Barbara County Fire. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 February 2015. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
  6. ^ "N Number N205KS". FAA. Archived from the original on 31 December 2013. Retrieved 29 December 2013.
  7. ^ "Air Support Unit" (PDF). SBC FD. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 February 2015. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  8. ^ "Copter 964 News Release - SBC Fire Department". www.sbcfire.com. Archived from the original on 2022-05-25. Retrieved 2022-03-26.
  9. ^ Cuenca, Oliver. "United Rotorcraft delivers firefighting Sikorsky HH-60 to Santa Barbara Fire Department". AirMed&Rescue. Archived from the original on 2022-03-25. Retrieved 2022-03-27.
  10. ^ "Mobile Water Supply" (PDF). SBCo Fire. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 February 2015. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  11. ^ a b "Rescue Ambulance" (PDF). Santa Barbara County Fire. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 February 2015. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  12. ^ "Station 11" (PDF). Santa Barbara County Fire. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 February 2015. Retrieved 29 December 2013.
  13. ^ "Station 24" (PDF). Santa Barbara County Fire. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 February 2015. Retrieved 29 December 2013.
  14. ^ a b Flores, Oscar (20 May 2015). "Oil Spill Off Santa Barbara County Coastline". KEYT. Archived from the original on 20 May 2015. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  15. ^ "California Oil Spill Grows To 9 Miles Along Coast". Huffington Post. The Associated Press. 20 May 2015. Archived from the original on 21 May 2015. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
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