Fire
Welcome to the Chumash Fire Department.
We’re a division of the tribal government devoted to fire and emergency medical and disaster preparedness services for the Santa Ynez Reservation.
The department’s firefighters also serve as a resource for the greater community, combatting fires and protecting people and property throughout the region. Often, we are the first responders to wildfires on federal land through an arrangement with the U.S. Forest Service. Additionally, Chumash fire crews can be found on the front lines — battling fires in Santa Barbara County, across the Central Coast, and in other Western states.
But at the heart of the Chumash Fire Department is our mission to safeguard the well-being of lives and property right here on the reservation in the Santa Ynez Valley. We have made a commitment to give back to the community, which we act on in numerous ways — such as by helping tribal people gain the skills to become certified in wildland firefighting, and teaching emergency preparedness to others.
With funding by the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, the Chumash Fire Department has the goal of protecting the reservation and continuing to be a public-safety resource for residents of Santa Barbara County and beyond.
Sincerely,
JP Zavalla
Fire Chief
Emergency Response Team:
The Chumash Fire Department has one station and two engines — a type 3 fire engine and a type 6 fire engine. The team’s permanent staff includes one Fire Chief, one Fire Department Administrative Assistant, two Captains, two Engineers, and eight to ten Seasonal/On Call Firefighters. This team is responsible for all risk and emergency response on the Reservation. The Fire Department also has a disaster response trailer outfitted to assist with needs during a natural disaster. Additionally, the trailer houses the gear for the Tribal Community Emergency Response Team.
Safety Classes:
The department provides training in health and safety, including fire extinguisher training and CPR/AED training to save the life of someone suffering from cardiac arrest. The department also teaches fire courses in the local area to many different agencies, to further support community initiatives in safety and emergency response.
Fire Safety:
In conjunction with the Tribal Health Clinic, the Fire Department inspects, replaces, and installs fire extinguishers on the Reservation. The team also inspects, tests, replaces batteries, and installs smoke detectors in tribal residence homes. There is also a fire prevention booth set up at almost all tribal events to promote fire safety education and guidance.
Cooperative Agreements:
The fire department has agreements in place with the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and the U.S. Forest Service for local and national fire suppression response.
Supplemental Fire Support Program:
The department includes 10 supplemental employees who are called in as overhead positions to fill needed roles when there are large incidents.
Cultural Specialist Program:
As a cultural specialist, the department is called upon to protect culturally sensitive areas for the tribe on local fires, as well as all other tribes on large incidents.
Refugio Oil Spill:
In May 2015, the Refugio Oil Spill deposited 142,800 gallons of crude oil onto one of the most biologically diverse coastlines of the West Coast. The Chumash Fire Department was on scene providing fire and medical response and acting as Cultural Specialists. The department also provided helicopter crewmembers and management to work toward the successful resolution of the incident.
Contact:
Gilbert Romero, Assistant Fire Chief
Telephone: 805-693-0606
Fax: 805-693-2140
A Decade of the Chumash Fire Department
Fill out the form below to send a message directly to the Chumash Fire Department.