Location and Jurisdiction

Santa Barbara County Fire Station 23 is located at 5003 Depot Avenue in Sisquoc (map). They can be reached at (805) 934-6294.
Station 23's jurisdictional area is bounded by Tepesquet Canyon in the north, to the south by Hwy. 101 and Alsio Canyon Road. In the east by Foxen Canyon and Rancho Sisquoc and in the west by Dominion Road.

Equipment

Engine 23

 

 

 

Engine 323

Staffing

Fire Station 23 is staffed by one Captain, one engineer and one firefighter.

History

It was after the 73,500 acre “Big Dalton Fire” of 1953 when residents of Sisquoc and others in the areas of Garey, Tepesquet Canyon, Foxen Canyon, Cat Canyon, and the Santa Maria Valley began to demand increased fire protection. In order to fill this need (under the direction of County Forrester and Fire Warden V.A. Wadliegh along with Fire Prevention Officer Herb Gordon) Station 23 first was opened in Sisquoc during 1955. At this time the Station was located at 4770 Foxen Canyon Road. (In the 50’s the town of Sisquoc had 125 people, forty homes and eleven commercial buildings.) Arrangements were made to rent the property from Valerio and Tillie Tognazzini for 65.00 per month. The Station in those days consisted of a small three-bedroom house with a garage to house the engine. After almost 35 years a new facility was needed to house firefighters and their equipment. So in July of 1987 the county purchased a 1.29-acre parcel from the Diamond T Land and Cattle Company and the county moved the interim Station 18 facilities (modular buildings made surplus by the construction and completion of Station 18) in Gaviota to Sisquoc. The buildings consisted of a 1900 square foot apparatus building and 1800 square foot modular living quarters along with a water tank and emergency generator. On March 18th 1990 the new Station 23 was completed. Later that month on the 26th dedication ceremonies were held and firefighters began official residence in their new station at 5003 Depot Avenue where they perform wildland fire suppression, structure fire suppression, medical aid and emergency assistance.