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Crew One
Santa Barbara County’s remote and steep topography presents a significant need for hand crews. In 1973, the Santa Barbara County Fie Department organized a Fire Hotshot Crew that was officially designated as Crew One. Many current and retired members of Santa Barbara County Fire Department started their careers as members of Crew One. The objectives of the crew are to assist in wildland firefighting and to play an important role in defensible space clearance.
Crew One is a 24 person crew divided into two 12 – person squads led by captains. The two squads share a schedule working four, ten-hour days, placing the crew on duty seven days a week. The schedule can be modified to provide 24/7 coverage if needed depending upon the weather. For example, during the 2007 Zaca Fire, Crew One worked 56 days in a row.
Transportation for Crew One consists of two crew-carrying vehicles that also contain hand tools such as chain saws, Pulaskis, McLeods, and shovels. Indivual gear bags are also carried on the trucks that help sustain the crew members when they are assigned to fires for multiple days. Crew One also has support vehicles that are equipped with small pumps that enable them to assist with mop up and firing operations.
When Crew One is not working on an incident, they are employed providing defensible space alongside roads and around structures throughout Santa Barbara County. They also build fuel breaks protecting the local residents from the threat of fire entering their neighborhoods. This activity helps the department accomplish its mission of the Ready! Set! Go! program.
Crew One, currently located at Cachuma Lake Park in Santa Barbara County, is also trained to assist with dozers, helicopters, rope rescue, water rescue, medical emergencies, and hazardous materials incidents.
The benefit to both the fire department and entire community, has earned Crew One recognition and support as a valued resource.