The Montecito Fire Department, in partnership with Montecito Water District, has established two temporary firefighter housing locations for use during elevated fire risk and other significant weather events, the water district said in a Sept. 3, 2026, press release.

The east-end site is the district’s East Valley Pump Station property near Sheffield Drive and East Valley Road, and the west-end site is at Terminal Reservoir near East Mountain Drive and Cold Spring Road, the district said. It said the border locations are intended to improve emergency response on the edges of Montecito Fire’s service area.

Montecito Fire Chief Brian Fallon said that by positioning firefighters at the two locations on the far ends of the district, crews can greatly reduce the time it takes to arrive at a vegetation fire in remote wildland areas where fire risk is highest. He said the department is grateful to the water district for coordinating on the project.

Montecito Water District General Manager Nick Turner said the district is pleased to collaborate on initiatives that increase protection for residents and improve fire resilience at water facilities that benefit the entire community. He said reducing risks to help ensure water availability during times of need is a top priority.

The district said travel trailers equipped with water and power were to be placed at the two sites in September so they can house firefighters when critical fire weather or storm events are predicted. Depending on conditions and resources, one or both locations would be staffed with two- or four-person crews using a Type 6 engine with 250 gallons of water or a Type 3 brush engine with 500 gallons, it said.

Montecito Fire increased firefighter staffing for severe fire weather and storm events 17 times in 2024 and 17 times in 2025, most often from November through February, according to the district. After the Palisades and Eaton fires in Los Angeles in January 2025, the agencies added four new fire hydrants at sites with vital water facilities, the district said.

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Montecito Water District

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