Montecito Fire Appoints First Public Information Officer

MONTECITO, CA – The Montecito Fire Protection District is pleased to announce Christina Favuzzi will serve as the organization’s first, full-time public information officer. After a highly competitive, nationwide search, Christina was selected to carry out this new and critically important role with the Fire District.  

Christina is a native of Santa Barbara. After graduating from San Marcos High School, she attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Journalism. Christina began her career in 2015 as a reporter for KSBY News in San Luis Obispo, CA. She spent six years covering the Central and South Coasts and most recently was the anchor of KSBY’s morning news broadcast.  

Christina will serve as a liaison to our media partners, participate in education programs and provide crucial information to the community. The role of public information officer was created as the result of the community’s request for better access to educational resources on emergency preparedness, response and recovery. Additionally, the crises of the Thomas Fire and 1/9 Debris Flow highlighted the need for a dedicated information professional.  

Fire Chief Kevin Taylor says Christina will play a key role in the overall success of Montecito Fire Protection District. “Christina competed against 52 other highly-qualified professionals from all over the nation in the PIO process and we are grateful to have her in this new and very important role in our organization,” Chief Taylor said.  

“It is a tremendous honor to join Montecito Fire as public information officer. Growing up, I watched wildfires ravage Santa Barbara County’s beautiful hillsides and later went on the report vital information to our community in times of crisis. This new position is an opportunity to build upon my local knowledge and journalism skills to serve our outstanding community,” Christina said. “I look forward to giving the community a window into the lives of their Montecito Firefighters and helping to deliver vital information on behalf of the organization.”  

Christina is recently married to her husband, Stan Atchison, a firefighter with Paso Robles City Fire Department. They live in the Santa Ynez Valley and look forward to this exciting new chapter of their lives.  

Christina Favuzzi may be reached at 805-608-5526 or [email protected].