Location and Jurisdiction

Santa Barbara County Fire Station 18 is located at 17200 Calle Mariposa Reina Road in Gaviota, CA (map). They can be reached at (805) 681 5518. Station 18‘s area is bounded by the Pacific Ocean both to the south and west. The northern boundary is roughly a line running from Jalama Beach, east thru the Nojoqui Summit ending at their eastern boundary which is determined by a line running due north from El Capitan State Beach Park.

Equipment

Station 18's Engine 18


Engine 318

Water Tender 18

Station 18 is also the home of the Departments Breathing Support Unit, which provides quick replenishment of air bottles at large scale emergencies and emergency lighting and works in association with the departments Hazardous Materials Response Team.

Staffing

Station 18 is staffed by three personnel, one Captain, one Engineer and one Firefighter.

History

It was June 1985 and the Department had requested that the County Board of Supervisors negotiate as part of a contact with Chevron, to fund a fire station (at no cost to the public) near the Chevron Gaviota gas and oil project. In August of that year the project plan was approved as part of the development plans for the plant, which was to process oil and gas from the Point Arguello off shore wells.

In February of 1986 a temporary fire station was begun nearby at the old Vista Del Mar School property. Later that year on August 26th the firefighters moved into their temporary quarters, which consisted of an 1800 square foot mobile home and a 35x52 pre fab metal building with which to house apparatus along with water tank and an emergency generator donated by Chevron while a permanent site was determined and built. (After the new station was built the temporary buildings, and generator were relocated to the new Station 23 in Sisquoc.) The location of the new site caused some consternation as a nearby Chumash religious site, Gaviota State Park and the explosion footprint of the plant all needed to be considered.

In November 1987 construction was begun on a 2-acre site with a beautiful view overlooking the Pacific Ocean donated by Chevron and built upon by J.W. Bailey Construction Company. Station 18 was moved into on February 15th 1989.

Station 18 is the trailhead for the Bob Moseley Trail named in memory of Bob Moseley.