The City of Santa Barbara went outside its own fire department to hire a new fire chief, announcing the appointment of Eric Nickel, who served as Palo Alto’s fire chief the past six years. Nickel, who started his firefighting career as a hot shot in the Angeles National Forest in 1987, will officially start work here January 14.
In brief introductory remarks he made to the City Council Tuesday afternoon, Nickel stressed the crucial importance of community risk reduction. “It’s no secret that climate change is happening,” he stated. Borrowing a line from Governor Jerry Brown, he added that the “extreme climate driven events” sweeping through California should be regarded as “the new abnormal.” He added, “These will continue to happen.”
During a brief interview outside council chambers, Nickel stated that some of Santa Barbara’s wildfire management plans were drafted in 2004. Conditions likely have changed significantly since then, he said; areas where five acres of brush needed to be cleared in 2004, he said, may now require the clearance of 50 acres. Community cooperation, he stressed, was key to any successful risk reduction effort. He added he wanted to collaborate with environmental experts now working at UCSB’s Bren School.