State Street Christmas Tree Saved
A company built on preventing emergencies jumped in this week to handle a different sort of challenge, that of saving the Santa Barbara tradition of erecting a Christmas tree in front of the Arlington Theatre in the middle of State Street. Consumer Fire Products, Inc. — which is based in both Goleta and Oregon and produces exterior fire protection systems and window covers — rose to the occasion this week when it was learned that Southern California Edison would donate the tree but not pay for the estimated $20,000 in cutting and transportation costs.
In a press release, Downtown Santa Barbara executive director Maggie Campbell explained, “When we learned there was a problem with the tree transportation, we appealed to the community for solutions or potential sponsors to pay the costs. When Consumer Fire Products, Inc. called this week and said they wanted to be our rock, they had us at hello.”
The official tree lighting will take place on Friday, December 5, 6:30 p.m., and be followed by the 62nd annual Downtown Holiday Parade, which is now also being presented by Consumer Fire Products.
