Santa Barbara County Fire Department is separated into four divisions. Operations, Support Services, EMS & Communications, and Fire Prevention. The vehicles used by these Division Chiefs are a full-sized SUV. The vehicles are outfitted with “low visibility” markings and has the emergency red lights integrated inside the vehicle behind the front windshield.

To effectively take command of an incident, it is usually located near the scene with a superior vantage point necessary to oversee operations. The Division Chief will keep in constant contact with dispatch, Battalion Chief, and firefighters at the scene, using the rear of the vehicle which has been fitted with a “Command Box.” This mobile, tactical office contains local and regional maps, an assortment of radios, incident command system (ICS) charts, telephone, and reference materials.

The Division Chief usually operates the vehicle without an adjutant, however for a larger incident, one may be assigned as a driver.