CalFire Thanks S.B.

CalFire Incident Command Team 4 would like to express its gratitude to the countless citizens and cooperators who provided support and assistance throughout the battle against the Jesusita Fire. Without the teamwork and resources provided by Santa Barbara and the surrounding communities, our team could not have been successful in meeting our goals.

Firefighters and emergency personnel from across the state and Western Region responded to the fire. Their suppression efforts were supported by local citizens, businesses, and community leaders alike. The overall success of mitigating this emergency was largely due to the collaborative efforts of both the responders and the community. We sincerely thank everyone who provided themselves, their staff, and their resources on our behalf. We appreciate the calm and patience shown by the thousands who were affected by evacuation orders. We admire Santa Barbara’s citizens who, in spite of evacuations, road closures, and inconveniences, demonstrated neighborly concern and endurance.

It would be impossible for us to recognize each genuine act of kindness the community has shown. For these things I simply want to say thank you. It has been the privilege of CalFire Incident Command Team 4 to serve with the City and County of Santa Barbara, Montecito Fire Protection District, and the United States Forest Service. It has been our honor to serve the citizens and communities of Santa Barbara County. – Joe Waterman, CalFire Team 4 Incident Commander