Montecito Fire’s fuels reduction program removes excess brush from community to lessen wildfire risk

February 12, 2025 10:00 a.m.

MONTECITO, CA – Montecito Fire Department’s 16th annual Neighborhood Chipping Program will begin February 18, 2025. This important fire prevention and preparedness program assists community members with increasing defensible space ahead of high wildfire season.  

The residential, curbside chipping program supports property owners as they create defensible space and reduce vegetation within 100 feet of their homes and along access roads. Residents may stack cut vegetation on their curb to be chipped and hauled to a recycling center by our designated contractor, Eco Tree Works. Montecito Fire Department is happy to offer guidance to residents on how best to trim back vegetation along driveways and roadways to create safer evacuation routes for the community and better access for first responders.  

The Montecito Fire Department partners with the Santa Barbara Fire Safe Council to fund the Neighborhood Chipping Program through a State-sponsored wildfire prevention grant. The grant is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide program that invests billions of dollars from the Cap-and-Trade program into projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, strengthen the economy, and improve public health and the environment, particularly in disadvantaged communities. The Cap-and-Trade program motivates industries to invest in clean technologies and develop innovative ways to reduce pollution. For more information, visit www.caclimateinvestments.ca.gov.  

Montecito Fire offers the Neighborhood Chipping Program to approximately 1,800 residents in the community's Very High Fire Severity Zone. Reducing the volume of flammable vegetation creates more defensible and survivable space around a property and increases the entire community’s resiliency to wildfires.   

In advance of the program, residents were mailed a postcard with specific dates that work will be done in each selected neighborhood. The postcard provides instructions for homeowners, including their responsibilities for cutting the vegetation, how and where to place cut material and what material cannot be chipped (vines, grass, palms, succulents, firewood, other small trimmings). Those materials may be disposed of in any of the 19 roll-off containers that are stationed throughout the community as part of the program.  

Montecito Fire has an Interactive Neighborhood Chipping Map that allows residents to type in their address to learn the start date of chipping in their neighborhood.  

Local chipping contractor Eco Tree Works will work alongside Montecito Fire’s Wildland Specialists to chip material and facilitate the “Tag & Trim” portion of the program. The Fire Department identifies low-hanging branches during routine neighborhood inspections and “tags” them. Eco Tree Works will remove or “trim” the flagged branches. Clearing these areas improves access for fire engines and makes it safer for residents to evacuate during an emergency.  

The 10-week Neighborhood Chipping Program will conclude the week of June 23. Community members may schedule a complimentary Defensible Space Survey with a member of the Montecito Fire Prevention Bureau by calling 805-969-7762 or emailing preventionmail@montecitofire.com.