Jun 08, 2024 at 12:29 AM

MONTECITO, CA – The Montecito Fire Department is pleased to welcome four firefighters to our organization following their successful completion of a 10-week fire academy. Our recruits trained alongside Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Department’s three recruits in a joint fire academy. These seven firefighters comprise Class 125 and are set to graduate tomorrow, June 8, 2024.   

We are grateful to our partners at Carpinteria-Summerland Fire for allowing us to train our recruits together.  

 “On the South Coast, we believe partnership with our neighboring agencies is a cornerstone of our ability to serve the community. The collaboration of the joint academy is a direct reflection of that partnership and lays a strong foundation for our new recruits.” said Fire Chief David Neels.  

We would like to thank and recognize Montecito Fire Captain Bob Galbraith, Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Captain Brian Bull and Montecito Firefighter/Paramedic Andy Rupp for their dedication as the Academy Cadre to organizing the academy and training the recruits. Additionally, many members from both departments assisted with the academy training and preparing the recruits to serve our community.

Firefighter/EMT Ethan Reeves comes to Montecito Fire after seven years with Santa Maria Fire Department. Prior to joining the fire service, Reeve served our country for ten years in the United States Air Force. Originally from Long Beach, Reeves currently lives in Arroyo Grande with his wife Erin.  

Firefighter/Paramedic Carlos Luna joins Montecito Fire Department after previously working as a paramedic for AMR in Ventura County. He gained experience as an EMT and paramedic working in the emergency room at Community Memorial Hospital and later AMR. He grew up in Michoacán, Mexico and moved to the United States when he was eight years old. He lives in Oxnard with his wife Ruth.

Firefighter/Paramedic Braden Macy brings over seven years of wildland firefighting experience to Montecito. He started his career working on the Los Padres National Forest as part of the Crew 7 hand crew, then went to the Shasta Lake Hotshot Crew and returned to the LPNF on Engine 41. Prior to joining Montecito Fire, he worked as a paramedic for AMR for nearly four years. He grew up in the Santa Ynez Valley and now lives in Goleta with his wife Madelyn and their daughter, Luna.

Firefighter/Paramedic Trevor Oakley grew up in the Santa Ynez Valley and began his career in the fire service as a seasonal firefighter for Cal Fire. After five fire seasons with Cal Fire in Santa Cruz, he spent two years working as a paramedic with San Luis Ambulance. Prior to joining Montecito, he worked as a firefighter/paramedic for Santa Barbara County Fire Department for nine years. Oakley lives in Santa Barbara with his wife Alexis.  

Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Department is gaining Firefighter Dan Fawcett, Firefighter/Paramedic Brenden Ryan and Firefighter/Paramedic Camila Schafer.

A graduation ceremony will take place Saturday, June 8 at 2 p.m. at Montecito Fire Station 91, 595 San Ysidro Road. The community is welcome to attend.

We would like to congratulate all the recruits on their significant accomplishment of completing the joint fire academy and look forward to having them serve our community on the South Coast.