Changing of the Guard Across Santa Barbara County’s Fire Departments
Four fire chiefs step down or shift posts in four months, reflecting a mix of retirements, internal promotions, and lateral moves across departments.
Ella Heydenfeldt
Recent Stories
Righetti High Student Arrested with Loaded Handgun on Campus in Santa Maria
An 18-year-old student was arrested at Righetti High School after a school resource deputy found a loaded handgun during a midday contact tied to a warrant, authorities said.
‘Here Comes the Sun’ Author Bill McKibben Shares Climate Message, with Gallows Humor and Hope, at UC Santa Barbara
After a stark assessment of warming impacts, the activist and environmental writer points to the rapid rise of solar and wind as a path forward during his talk at Campbell Hall.
Manhunt Underway in Eastern Goleta for Wanted Felon
Authorities identify suspect as Anthony Torres Lopez Jr., who allegedly rammed into a deputy’s vehicle and fled on foot Tuesday evening.
Three Sought in Solvang Arson Investigation
Investigators say the suspects left the building minutes before the fire — then returned to watch it burn.
Unpacking the Origins of 4/20
A Santa Barbara encounter with one of the original “Waldos” traces the unlikely path from a high school code to a global cannabis holiday.
Sable Offshore’s Federal Defense Falls Flat in Santa Barbara Court
Judge Donna Geck upholds injunction and rejects the Houston oil company’s claim that a federal order overrides California law. The next hearing set for May 22 could decide whether the company pays for violating the court order.
‘Everything’s Getting Pinched’: UCSB and Isla Vista Grapple with Constricting Coastline
A relocated fence at Anacapa Resident Hall’s “pinch point” marks the start of UCSB’s response to sea-level rise — while just next door in Isla Vista, the coastline is shifting faster than the plan to manage it.
The Green 15: Santa Barbara County Students, Educators Recognized as Environmental Champions
Explore Ecology’s annual Environmental Stewardship Awards spotlight real work — from composting systems to student-led activism.
A Santa Barbara Hula Hālau Prepares to Cross the Pacific
For nearly six decades, the South Coast group has preserved Hawaiian and Polynesian dance traditions. Now, it is raising money to send three generations of dancers back across the Pacific.
