On December 9, 2025, Santa Barbara County officials and public safety partners met at 4406 & 4408 Cathedral Oaks Road in Santa Barbara to mark the completion of the Regional Fire Communications Center (RFCC) and the expansion of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC). The new RFCC is now the central dispatch hub for seven local fire agencies and American Medical Response (AMR). These agencies include the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Protection District, Santa Barbara City Fire Department, Montecito Fire Protection District, Lompoc Fire Department, Guadalupe Fire Department, and Santa Maria Fire Department. The centralization aims to improve response times and coordination during emergencies.
Laura Capps, Chair of the Board of Supervisors, noted the planning and collaboration involved in the project. She stated that the unified dispatch center will send the closest available help, regardless of jurisdiction. The project also expanded the Emergency Operations Center, adding a Joint Information Center and Call Center. These additions are intended to support communication and provide accurate information to the public during emergencies…