With warm days continuing despite the end of summer, many people continue to enjoy hiking on Santa Barbara County’s many trails.

The Santa Barbara County Fire Department is reminding people that when you’re outside, sometimes far from civilization, you can get injured. Planning ahead and using some hiking-safety common sense will help you have an enjoyable hike, officials say, and they offer this advice:

• Pay attention to weather forecasts. Sites like Weather.com let you check forecasts by location and ZIP code. The site offers hourly temperature predictions for the current day and for the following day.
• Don’t be overly ambitious. A hot day isn’t the best time to finally do that 10-miler with 2,000 feet of climbing. If you’re intent on getting out, scale back your expectations and save the tough trails for another day.
• Choose the right hike. There are many trails to pick from in Santa Barbara County, from very easy to very difficult and strenuous. To help you decide which hike is best for you, check out the www.santabarbarahikes.com. It has a description and maps of all the trails in the county.
• Hike early in the day. Temperatures can easily be 20-25 degrees cooler in the morning than in the afternoon.
• Avoid the most intense sun. Direct sun will increase heat-related stresses and the risk of sunburn. Try to find shaded trails and avoid hiking between 10 and 4.
• Keep it loose and light. When it comes to clothing, remember “the three L’s:  lightweight, loose-fitting, light-colored.
• Wear a hat. A lightweight, light-colored hat with a broad brim to keep the sun off your face and neck will help you stay cool.
• Use (and pack) sunscreen. Exposed, sunburned skin will only make it more difficult for your body to stay cool.
• Don’t travel alone. If you’re just going for a hike in a nearby, well-traveled area, you’re as safe there as anywhere. But if you travel through heavily forested areas, with steep canyons and winding trails, you can easily get lost or injured. Traveling with a partner will help you in many ways, especially if he or she is an experienced hiker. People in pairs are much less likely to panic. They can assist one another up steep grades and apply first-aid when needed.
• Know where you’re going. Stay on clearly marked or well-traveled trails. A map, a compass and/or a GPS unit is a must for any kind of serious hike. A cell phone can also be very useful, but not all units will continue to function in every area. Get the details of where you plan to go and ask someone who knows.
• Take some basic gear. A simple first aid kit can be a lifesaver. Gauze and bandages, anti-bacterial cream and other standard items are essential. All these things are small and lightweight.
• Hydration. On hot days, your body can lose large amounts of water through perspiration. The general rule is that you can sweat roughly a quart of water every hour — and even more when hiking uphill or in direct sunlight.

Proper hydration is essential to the health of the body’s organs, including the brain. Dehydration can lead to impaired brain functioning, which then results in confusion and impaired judgment. Blood can also thicken, forcing the heart to work harder.

Start the hydration process before you go out. Begin to hydrate a couple of hours before you hit the trail. Drink frequently, instead of guzzling a bunch of water all at once.

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When people need emergency help, they want the assistance to arrive immediately — but one thing that can delay the arrival of an ambulance, fire engine or police car is other drivers’ failure to pull to the right and stop when they hear a siren or see flashing lights.

Every year in the United States there are 16,000 collisions involving fire
department emergency vehicles responding to or returning from incidents, according to Daniel Bertucelli, a spokesman for the Santa Barbara County Fire Department. These collisions result in more than 1,000 firefighter injuries and 50 deaths. Many, if not most, of these accidents would be avoided if everyone would just move right for sirens and lights, he said.

Why, then, doesn’t everyone just pull to the right? Many people panic. Some don’t know or understand the law. Others simply don’t adhere to the rules of the road, he said.

The law is very specific: Drivers must yield the right-of-way to an emergency vehicle. Firefighters work hard to avoid vehicle collisions by driving slowly when traveling against traffic, coming to a complete stop at intersections, etc. However, the cooperation of all vehicles on the roadway is essential, Bertucelli said.

Bertucelli offered these rules for drivers who encounter an emergency vehicle whose lights are flashing, whether the siren is sounding or not.

Pull to the right and come to a complete stop. If you’re traveling on a high-speed road or if there is no room to stop, slow down as much as possible. If you are in the left lane, pull over into the right lane.

If you cannot move to the right because of another vehicle or obstacle, just stop. Your action will let the driver of the emergency vehicle know what you are doing and allow the driver to anticipate where to drive.

When an emergency vehicle approaches you from behind while you are stopped at an intersection, stay where you are unless you can pull to the right.

On a two- or four-lane highway or street without barriers, both sides of traffic should pull to the right. If the emergency vehicle is traveling in the opposite direction on a divided highway or street, you do not need to pull over.

If you are on a divided highway where traffic in front of you is at a standstill and you see emergency lights behind you, move to the right if you can; stay where you are if you can’t. Never move into the center divider — you could be moving into the path of an approaching emergency vehicle.

Stay at least 500 feet behind any emergency vehicle.

Do not move to the left, ever, and do not play music so loudly that you are unable to hear sirens.

Do not race ahead to make the green light or turn before the emergency vehicle gets there, and do not turn quickly to the left onto a street or driveway.

Do not drive through a red light or stop sign when an emergency vehicle approaches from behind.

And above all, do not disregard the emergency vehicle by continuing to drive.

Following these simple rules will help everyone involved in an emergency: those who desperately need help and those who are hurrying to help them, Bertucelli said.

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After a recent increase in calls about carbon monoxide detectors going off, the Santa Barbara County Fire Department is encouraging residents to consider changing batteries or getting a new alarm.

In July 2011, California Senate Bill 183 went into effect. Known as the “Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act,” the law requires California residents to install CO alarms in their homes.

Because the sensors in CO alarms have a limited lifespan, alarms bought in 2011 may start sounding an end-of-life warning beep at some point this year. If so, it is time to replace it.

CO is a colorless, odorless and tasteless poisonous gas that can be fatal when inhaled. Mild exposure can cause a slight headache, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and flu-like symptoms. Extreme exposure can cause convulsions, unconsciousness, brain damage, and heart and lung failure, followed by death.

If a CO alarm goes off, get to fresh air and call 911, officials advise. If you are unable to leave your home, open the doors and windows, and turn off all possible sources of CO while you are waiting for assistance to arrive. Under no circumstance should an alarm be ignored.

For more information about carbon monoxide, visit BeatTheBeep.com.

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The Santa Barbara County Fire Department has announced the retirements of four longtime employees, including its public information officer, Capt. Dave Zaniboni.

In 33 years of service, Zaniboni rose through the ranks from firefighter paramedic to captain. He was a frequent public face recently while representing the department during the Sherpa, Whittier and Thomas fires and the Montecito debris flow.

Zaniboni’s replacement will be Capt. Daniel Bertucelli, who has worked for the department since 2005, also starting as a firefighter paramedic. He has been an active member of the department’s Water Rescue, USAR, Air Support, and HazMat teams. He has lived in Santa Barbara since 1993.

Also retiring in March were Division Chief Steve Oaks and Engineer Randy Harris, who both served the department for 32 years, and Capt. Peter Ysebrands, who served for 33 years.

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Noozhawk Staff Writer

Santa Barbara County Fire Chief Eric Peterson will retire at the end of October after more than 30 years with the department.

Peterson had been spreading the news of his plans for a few months, but no formal announcement was made until Friday, Aug. 31.

Before he was appointed the county’s fire chief in 2015, Peterson climbed the ranks of the department as firefighter, engineer, captain, training battalion chief, operations battalion chief, fire marshal and deputy fire chief, according to a county statement. He also served as union president.

County Executive Officer Mona Miyasato said Peterson “demonstrated leadership in the most trying of times, passion for doing what he believes is right, and, above all else, care for our residents and firefighters.”

Peterson has been with County Fire for 32 years, making him a veteran of the Painted Cave, Zaca, Tea, Jesusita, Gap, Sherpa, Alamo, Rey, Whittier, Thomas and Holiday fires, the county noted.

Other major incidents during his tenure include the 2015 Refugio Oil Spill and Jan. 9 Montecito debris flow.

“I’ve appreciated Chief Peterson’s ability to foster strong relationships with our other fire agencies at the local, state and federal levels, which has been crucial in preparing for and responding to disasters in our area,” First District Supervisor Das Williams said in a statement. “His skill, experience and leadership will be greatly missed.”

Peterson is a Santa Barbara resident, and he and his wife, Kit, have 8-year-old twins.

“I have had the pleasure of working with a great team of firefighters and support staff at the department, the support of wonderful operational area partners and support from the Board of Supervisors and county executive office,” Peterson said in a statement. “It is hard to ask for anything better.”

The Board of Supervisors will name an interim fire chief before Peterson’s departure. A comprehensive recruitment for a permanent replacement will start in September, said Dennis Bozanich, deputy county executive officer.

Late in August at a Board of Supervisors’ meeting, Peterson and Sheriff Bill Brown argued for their visions of the combined dispatch center in the future. Peterson and other fire agencies want a separate facility from the law enforcement dispatchers, while Brown wants to continue having a consolidated dispatch center.

Brown also referred to Peterson’s impending retirement at the meeting, arguing that the county should delay decisions on dispatch center changes until the next fire chief can weigh in.

Noozhawk staff writer Brooke Holland can be reached at bholland@noozhawk.com.

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Burn permits have been suspended and fire responses beefed up since the declaration on May 14 of High Fire Season in Santa Barbara County.

During fire season, all area fire departments increase the amount of staffing and equipment in first responses to vegetation fires, in the hope of keeping them from getting out of hand.

The Santa Barbara County Fire Department is repeating seasonal reminders that residents should maintain vegetation clearance around structures, create or review a wildfire action and escape plan, and be extra cautious when traveling or staying in wildland areas.

For more information, visit www.sbcfire.com.

In preparation for the 2018 wildfire season, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has opened its new Wildfire Safety Operations Center.

The center will be staffed 24/7 to monitor potential fire threats across PG&E’s service area and coordinate with first responders and public safety officials.

The Wildfire Safety Operations Center is part of PG&E’s Community Wildfire Safety Program, launched in March after the Thomas Fire, as an additional precautionary measure intended to reduce wildfire threats.

“Extreme weather is increasing the number of wildfires and length of wildfire season in California. We must continue to adapt to meet the challenges created by this ‘new normal,’” said Pat Hogan,  PG&E senior vice president of Electric Operations.

The center will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, during wildfire season and will be operational at other times as well, depending on conditions.

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Noozhawk

A community meeting Jan. 16 in Santa Barbara served as a stage for emergency responders, county officials and community members to exchange stories of heroism in the aftermath of the prior week’s devastating flooding in Montecito.

Standing on the La Cumbre Junior High School auditorium stage — in front of a couple of hundred residents — Santa Barbara County Fire Department Battalion Chief Matt Farris, a Santa Ynez Valley resident, described the steps taken in preparation of the Jan. 9 storm and his personal experience driving and working during the deadly flash flooding.

Helicopters crews were on standby, the U.S. Coast Guard was on call, and California National Guard units were deployed with high-water vehicles for evacuations before the heavy rains hit the Thomas Fire’s burn area, he said.

“We had a plan,” Farris said. “I spent Monday (Jan. 8) implementing that plan and putting people in place to be the most effective it could be.”

An emergency responder Farris spoke with made eight trips, carrying 30 people each time to safety from the disastrous debris flows and mud that devastated parts of Montecito.

“It shows the number of people that had to evacuate,” Farris said.

Farris woke up around 3 a.m. on Jan. 9 and drove southbound. He had been sleeping inside his vehicle at the incident command headquarters at Earl Warren Showgrounds.

Before he arrived at the Olive Mill Road exit in Montecito, Farris said, he drove into “deep water.”

“I called our dispatch center to have the freeway shut down at that point — I continued and was talking to the chief on the phone — and saw a giant flash in the air,” Farris said.

He thought it was lightning.

“That flash turned out to be the homes on fire,” Farris said. “I could still see the glow.”

On Jan. 9, there was a report of a large natural gas fire in the area of El Bosque Road, and a report of a natural gas explosion and structure fire on Via Mañana.

“I ordered more equipment and deployed all resources,” Farris said.

He continued traveling toward Carpinteria and pulled over to make another phone call.

“I was hitting deep water at every low spot on the freeway,” he said.

Debris flows were barreling down the hillsides when he was traveling north on Highway 101.

“I don’t know how I made it through that,” Farris recalled. “It was a miracle. I continued on my way. My car was totaled, but somehow I was able to drive.”

Farris headed to East Valley Road in his mud-covered vehicle and parked along Highway 192 at San Ysidro Road.

At that time, it was pouring rain outside.

“I opened up the back of my car and ran the incident from that location,” Farris said. “That’s just one story. There are many more stories and more heroic actions taken by all people who have been out there. Many rescues took place.”

The attendees, some teary-eyed, sat silently while Farris spoke.

“A person had no clothing, and she (a firefighter) took the clothing off her back and gave it to someone,” Farris said. “She was standing in the mud with no clothes on to protect this person. We flew her out with several other people and the Coast Guard, in the pouring rain.”

“We spent the first week in rescue mode — and for firefighters, it’s hard to transition from that,” Farris said. “Rescue mode to recovery mode is something firefighters are not equipped to do, but that’s something we are doing because we are all a community. We want to see closure just like everyone.”

His remarks received loud applause from community members.

Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown described working under hard conditions during the storm.

“We have slogged through the mud, rescued the living, cared for the dead and assisted those in need,” he said.

Anthony Stornetta with the Santa Barbara County Fire Department said helicopters were first dispatched early on Jan. 9.

Visibility at the time was difficult though heavy rain and fog.

“Under any other state, those helicopters wouldn’t have been launched,” Stornetta said. “Due to the number of rescues and people that were trapped, we launched the helicopters.”

Stornetta said the helicopter crews had to use night-vision goggles.

“When they landed on Cottage Hospital, the fog rolled in, and they couldn’t get off the pad,” Stornetta said. “As soon as the fog cleared, they dropped under the clouds and took off again. This is unrealistic. We usually don’t do missions like this.”

Ten helicopters responded from the Ventura County Fire Department, Santa Barbara County, the U.S. Coast Guard, and five National Guard Blackhawks.

Eighteen hoist rescues were conducted a few hours after the storm hit, Stornetta said.

“It was dynamic and dangerous,” he said. “We picked people out of waterways, off rooftops, and anywhere. We grabbed them.”

Within the first 14 hours, crews conducted 102 air rescues and transported patients to the Santa Barbara Airport, where the injured were met by an ambulance.

One helicopter had water enter from the top of the aircraft, Stornetta said.

“During that time, they lost all communication in the cockpit, and they continued to fly,” Stornetta said. “They kept going with more hoist rescues and smelled burning — that was time to set it down.”

The Santa Barbara County air unit helicopter made an emergency landing at the Birnam Wood Golf Club.

“The status of that helicopter is unknown, but I think it will be down for some time,” Stornetta said.

Stornetta said a pilot, who has 11 years experience in the Navy and spent nine years in the Coast Guard, described the air rescue mission as “the most difficult situation he has ever flown” and “he’s one of our most experienced pilots.”

Stornetta said rescue crews are asking about updates on the progress of those they saved from rushing waters and thick mud.

“There’s a huge emotional attachment, and all they want to know if their patients made it,” Stornetta. “This has been an emotional time.”

The meeting also provided the following information:

• FEMA expanded the recently approved Presidential Major Disaster Declaration in the areas affected by the December 2017 wildfires to include damage incurred from flooding and mud and debris flows.
• Santa Barbara County Superintendent of Schools Susan Salcido said Jan. 16 marked the first day that all 20 school districts in the county were open to serve students since the Thomas Fire in December and the flash flooding event.
• No reports of thefts or looting had been made to the Sheriff’s Office, according to Sheriff Bill Brown.
• County officials stressed the importance of keep roadways clear due to heavy equipment and excessive vehicle activity working to remove mud and water from Montecito to disposal sites.
• The Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management is working on plans in case another powerful storm prompts future evacuations.
• Anyone interested in volunteering can visit www.redcross.org/volunteers.
• CHP Capt. Cindy Pontes said those looking for their abandoned vehicles on Highway 101 or county roadways can call 805-477-4174, with their license plate number or vehicle identification available.

Noozhawk staff writer Brooke Holland can be reached at bholland@noozhawk.com.

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Santa Ynez Valley Star

When the Thomas Fire and other disasters strike, the community quickly comes together to meet not only the human but also the animal needs throughout the Santa Ynez Valley.

However, Dawn Perrine and Julie Monser, two women heavily involved in the local equine community, believe that there’s a need for more organization and training to safely help animals during a crisis.

The women have coordinated with a number of organizations and agencies to hold an Equine Emergency Preparedness Expo at 9 a.m. Jan. 20 at the Santa Ynez Valley Equestrian Center.

“The goal of this event is to organize ourselves, so we can work under the incident command system in an emergency,” Perrine said. “I’ve been talking about it for a long time. We have to organize so we can get [the animals] out of immediate danger, know who we are, and where we can go with them.”

Santa Barbara Equine Evacuation and Assistance Team, Horse Emergency Evacuation Team (H.E.E.T.), Cal Fire, local veterinarians, ham radio operators, and others will provide information, resources and training throughout the event to teach those attending how to prepare themselves, their horses, their homes, and their facilities for any emergency.

In addition, the Santa Barbara County Fire Department is scheduled to hold a CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) Express course in the afternoon.

This two-hour class touches on the basics of the FEMA-based CERT class as well as a few other emergency situations.  Topics include how to handle a fire extinguisher, locate utilities, fire safety, basic first aid, home/work safety tips, urban search and rescue, basic triage, active shooter survival, and how to prepare for natural disasters.

Though attendees won’t receive the FEMA CERT certificate, they will learn how to stay calm, think clearly, and act decisively in an emergency.

Event organizers said they are grateful to the Santa Ynez Valley Riders and the Santa Ynez Equestrian Center for their sponsorship and donation of facilities for the day.

The Equestrian Center is at 195 N. Refugio Road in Santa Ynez, south of Highway 246. For more information, visit the Equine Emergency Preparedness Expo group on Facebook or call Julie Monser at 805-264-3422 or Dawn Perrine at 805-245-6727.

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The annual Christmas Tree Burn in Solvang will close the 2017 Julefest celebration and open the new year from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 5, in the field at Mission Santa Ines.

The event, coordinated by the Solvang Parks and Recreation Department and supervised by the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, is billed as one of the largest fire safety demonstrations and community holiday gatherings on California’s Central Coast.

There will be free, live entertainment as well as refreshments for purchase.

Solvang officials have promised to announce as quickly as possible if rain is expected to delay or cancel this year’s event. In 2016, the event was canceled because of rain, so the trees were chipped up for mulch.

All area residents are invited to bring their tree (with stands and ornaments removed) to the big burn pile until 5 p.m. on Jan. 5.

Photo by Mikki Robinson

For more details, call Solvang Parks & Rec at 805-688-PLAY or visit www.solvangusa.com/events/annual-christmas-tree-burn/. Mission Santa Ines is at 1760 Mission Drive in Solvang.

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As the temperature drops, the number of residential fires rises. The Santa Barbara County Fire Department advises following precautions:

• Have a qualified serviceman inspect your furnace and change the filter.
• If you have a fireplace or wood-burning stove, make sure it’s clean and inspected by a qualified chimney sweep.
• Burn only dry, well-seasoned wood. Never burn trash in your fireplace, and never use gasoline, charcoal lighter fluid or other fuel to light a fire.
• When using your fireplace, make sure the opening is covered with an approved metal screen or glass doors. Never leave a fire unattended.
• When using space heaters, make sure there is a minimum of 36 inches of clearance on all sides of the heater.
• If you burn candles, never leave them unattended. Don’t use candles in the bedroom, where you may fall asleep. Always use a sturdy candleholder and keep candles at least 12 inches away from anything flammable.
• Make sure there are operating smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors on each level of your home. Your family should have and practice a home fire escape plan.

For more tips log onto www.sbfire.com.

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