3510 Harris Grade Road
Lompoc, California 93436
805-737-7742
Engine 34’s response area is bordered on the North by State Hwy. 1 at San Antonio Creek. In the South at the Las Cruces Grade on State Hwy. 1. In the East by Drum Canyon at State Hwy 246 and in the West by the Pacific Ocean.
R/A 34’s response area is North by State Hwy. 1 at San Antonio Creek. In the South at State Hwy. 1 and the convergence of Ytisas and El Jaro Creeks. In the East at State Hwy 246 and Drum Canyon and the West by the Pacific Ocean.
Staffing
Station 34 is a dedicated Advanced Life Support station. It is staffed by one Captain, two Engineers and two Firefighter/Paramedics.
History
Santa Barbara County’s Station 34 is busy, and has a Paramedic Engine Company and a Rescue Ambulance that respond in the shadow of US Space Command’s Vandenberg Air Force Base. Several launch towers can be seen in the distance from the station. The crew of 34s have a large response area, including popular Jalama Beach, State Highways 1 and 246, the community of Vandenberg Villiage, and areas surrounding the City of Lompoc. Additionally, both the Engine and R/A respond with the Lompoc City Fire Department for Mutual-Aid calls.
It was turbulent times in the fall of 1961 with regards to the establishment of a County Fire Station near Lompoc Valley. The argument at the time was since the new station was to be located between Vandenberg Village and the new sub-division homes those residents should bear the brunt of the cost. However, then Fire Warden Wadliegh stated that County firefighters would be vacating the existing Lompoc City Fire Station and that the primary function of the new County station was to provide protection of the watershed in the area and therefore the obligation was a county-wide issue. Though there was still dissension among the County Board of Supervisors, the issue was finally resolved and money was allocated from the County’s capital outlay fund.
On October 3 of 1961, the City of Lompoc formally requested that the County move out of the Lompoc City Fire Station because the space was needed for additional firefighters and equipment that the City wanted to add to its force. The building process began in 1962 when the County purchased 4 acres for $4,000.00. Plans were completed for a new fire station and 2 dwelling units for the married firefighters and their families. (A firefighter had a 132 hour work week in 1963 working 24 hours a day 6 days a week.)
The fire station and living units were completed in November of 1963. On Jan 5th of 1964, a captain and 3 firefighters moved into their new quarters. With the eventual change in the work schedule of the firefighters, the living units were no longer needed and these were given over to the County Sheriffs in January of 1978.
In time, a new station was needed, and in October of 2008, the new 34’s was opened not far from the original one. The new quarters are located at 3510 Harris Grade Road.