The Montecito Fire Protection District was organized on June 20, 1917. The District currently consists of 21.7 square miles, ranging from sea level to more than 2710 ft of elevation.

The Montecito Fire Protection District is governed by the Fire Board of Directors. The District is organized under section 13800 to 13970 inclusive, of the Health and Safety Code of the State of California, Fire Protection District Law of 1987. 

The District is located in Southern Santa Barbara County, adjacent to the Eastern border of the City of Santa Barbara. The Southern border is three miles at sea into the Pacific Ocean. The Northern border is shared with the U.S.D.A. Forest Service. The Eastern border is the Western border of the Carpinteria Summerland Fire Department.

The District currently staffs two stations within Montecito. Station One, the Headquarters station houses a First Out engine company as well as a Paramedic Rescue. Also available from Station One is a Duty Battalion Chief. Currently, seven personnel are available 24 hours, 7 days a week out of Station one. Station Two houses three or four personnel 24 hours a day.

Dispatch is provided by full-time, 24-hour dispatchers at Station 91 who staff the South Coast Dispatch Center. In early 2025, South Coast Dispatch will join the Santa Barbara County Regional Fire Communications Center to streamline dispatch operations regardless of agency jurisdictions. 

All 24-hour personnel, including dispatchers, work a 48-hour, 3-platoon shift.

The Fire District is organized for the purpose of saving the lives of anyone who may be in danger due to fire, smoke, gases, etc. To extinguish fires with the least possible damage to property from fire or water; to prevent fires by fire prevention ordinances and to perform such other acts for public safety as may arise in the event of disaster or other emergency.

The District provides Paramedic level Advanced Life Support services to its constituents and those in the surrounding area. Currently, the District does not provide transport services unless the local private ambulance company is saturated.

Our Fire Personnel respond to all types of incidents including, but not limited to:

All fires, medical emergencies, vehicle accidents, alarms ringing, technical rescue, unknown type emergencies, hazardous materials, and public service assists. The Department is involved with mutual aid within the local area as well as statewide through the Office of Emergency Services (OES).

The District is proud to have one of the few Medium (Type 2) Urban Search and Rescue Vehicles which is certified by the State OES.

The District also provides overhead personnel to the USDA Forest Service and other agencies when responses for large incidents need additional resources.