17200 Calle Mariposa Reina Road
Gaviota, CA. 93117
805-681-5518

Station 38’s area is bounded by the Pacific Ocean both to the South and West. The Northern boundary is roughly a line running from Jalama Beach, East thru the Nojoqui Summit ending at their Eastern boundary which is determined by a line running due North from El Capitan State Beach Park.

Staffing

Station 38 is staffed by three personnel, one Captain, one Engineer and one Firefighter.

History

Station 38 is unique. It sits on the border of Battalion 3 and Battalion 1, and for this reason, it houses the department’s Light & Air Unit as well as our new Support Water Tender, a 3,000 gallon Pierce. The crew of Station 38 can quickly respond to either the North or South County Operations Divisions with these vital apparatus. The local area for 38’s includes a large stretch of both US 101 and State Highway 1, the exclusive Hollister Ranch, and the postcard perfect scenic Gaviota Coast, which includes three popular State Beach Campgrounds. Additionally, the geography and topography make it so that a near-constant wind howls through the area near the station.

It was June of  1985 and the Fire Department had requested that the County Board of Supervisors negotiate, as part of a contract with Chevron Oil Company, to fund a fire station (at no cost to the public) near the Chevron Gaviota gas and oil project. In August of that year, the project plan was approved as part of the development plans for the plant, which was to process oil and gas from the Point Arguello off-shore wells.
In February of 1986, a temporary fire station was begun nearby at the old Vista Del Mar School property. Later that year on August 26th the firefighters moved into their temporary quarters, which consisted of an 1,800 square foot mobile home and a 35×52 pre-fabricated metal building with which to house apparatus, along with a water tank and an emergency generator. All of this was donated by Chevron while a permanent site was determined and built. (After the new station was built, the temporary buildings and the generator were relocated as the new Station 23 in Sisquoc.)

In November 1987, construction began on a 2-acre site that has a beautiful view overlooking the Pacific Ocean, which was donated by Chevron and built upon by J.W. Bailey Construction Company. Station 38 was placed in service on February 15th 1989.