The Montecito Fire Department has welcomed four new firefighters, following their completion of a 10-week fire academy.

“The Montecito Fire recruits trained alongside Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Department’s three recruits in a joint fire academy,” said Fire Chief David Neels. 

“On the South Coast, we believe partnership with our neighboring agencies is a cornerstone of our ability to serve the community,” Neels said. “The collaboration of the joint academy is a direct reflection of that partnership and lays a strong foundation for our new recruits.”   
 
Montecito Fire recognized Montecito Fire Capt. Bob Galbraith; Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Capt. Brian Bull; and Montecito Firefighter/Paramedic Andy Rupp for their dedication as the Academy Cadre to organizing the academy and training the recruits.

A number of members from both departments assisted with the academy training and preparing the recruits to serve our community.

The new Montecito firefighters are:

Firefighter/EMT Ethan Reeves, who previously spent seven years with Santa Maria Fire Department. Before joining the fire service, Reeves served our for 10 years in the United States Air Force. Originally from Long Beach, he currently lives in Arroyo Grande.
 
Firefighter/paramedic Carlos Luna 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 U.S. when he was eight years old. He lives in Oxnard.

Firefighter/paramedic Braden Macy brings 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.

Before joining Montecito Fire, Macy worked as a paramedic for AMR for nearly four years. He grew up in the Santa Ynez Valley and now lives in Goleta.

Firefighter/Pparamedic Trevor Oakley also grew up in the Santa Ynez Valley. He 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.

Three firefighters are joining Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Department : Firefighter Dan Fawcett, Firefighter/paramedic Brenden Ryan, and Firefighter/paramedic Camila Schafer.

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