Part of living in a Mediterranean climate and enjoying the benefits of our adjacent natural environment, is the responsibility to be prepared to deal with the wildland fires which frequent the area. In 1997, a local group formed to strengthen the bond between the fire service agencies and private citizens and to help community members prepare for future wildfires. The Santa Barbara County Fire Safe Council continues to this day with the same mission it has had for 23 years - to promote wildfire safety in Santa Barbara County through education and action

The Santa Barbara County Fire Department is saddened to announce the passing of our canine fire family member, Riley. Riley served as the department’s accelerant detection/arson canine for seven years. Riley was diagnosed with a non-work related brain tumor in April of 2020.

The Santa Barbara County Fire Department is excited to announce the launch of its newly redesigned website: www.sbcfire.com. Over the course of the last six months, the Fire Department has been working with local web designer Ameravant Web Design to create and develop a website that is not only educational to the public, but also provides residents with vital, up-to-date information during times of emergencies and disasters.

COVID-19: 7/1/20  Santa Barbara County Fire Department continues to work with local emergency response and county health agencies to assess and manage community support as required by the current pandemic. For more information, click below to access the County of Santa Barbara Public Health Information Portal.

Visit SB Public Health Information Portal

The Santa Barbara County Fire Department would like to welcome its newest member, Rhonda, who is the Department’s first Emotional Support Canine. Rhonda was trained over a 9-month period to recognize signs of agitation, anxiety, and stress and interrupt those behaviors by providing affection and enabling individuals to express themselves in a safe environment.

The 2020 Santa Barbara County Unit Strategic Fire Plan is developed with the Santa Barbara County Fire Department’s Mission Statement in mind and intended to serve as a collaborative local planning document.

View the 2020 STRATEGIC FIRE PLAN (PDF)

SANTA BARBARA County, Calif. — The Santa Barbara County Fire Department has tentatively scheduled a range improvement burn at 4155 Figueroa Mountain Rd in Los Olivos with a burn window from June 10 and June 11th. The goal of this two-day burn is to provide live fire training for the certification of instructors to teach CA-219 Firing Operations class.

On Tuesday, May 26, 2020 Santa Barbara County Fire Department Fire Investigators and Sheriff’s Department Detectives identified and apprehended a male juvenile suspected of starting multiple fires in the area of North Turnpike Road and Vala Drive.

SANTA BARBARA, Ca. May 14th, 2020– Beginning June 1st, the Santa Barbara County Fire Department (SBCFD) will be conducting defensible space inspections. A minimum of 100 feet of defensible space is required around your home in Santa Barbara County. Engine companies will perform inspections and provide homeowners with educational material on how to comply.

The Santa Barbara County Fire Department is pleased to announce the implementation of our 9th Remote Automated Weather Station (RAWS) in Santa Barbara County. This project consists of the installation of a fixed Remote Automated Weather Station (RAWS) in the Purisima Hills area of Santa Barbara County on land owned by Sentinel Peak Resources near the Burton Mesa communities of Vandenberg Village, Mission Hills, and Mesa Oaks.