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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 Santa Barbara County Fire Department Air and Light Unit.
The Santa Barbara County Fire Department's Air and Light Unit gives Firefighters the ability to refill the tanks for their Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) for use over extended periods.
Along with specialized air compressors, the multifunctional new (2011) unit also provides for nighttime scene illumination and safety, along with the ability to supply electrical power in a emergency to a shelter, base camp, or medical facility.
The new Air and Light Unit is located at Fire Station 18 in Gaviota.
Light and Air units are used for major fires, rescues, hazardous materials events and even bio-terrorist attacks.
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.
