Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Protection Master Plan 2012 – 2022

Master Plan (pdf download)

According to the National Fire Protection Association Standard 1201 Master Planning is defined as:

“A participative process that should result in the establishment of a fire prevention and control system that is goal oriented, long term, comprehensive, provides known cost performance and adapts continually to the changing needs of the community.”

Early in 2008 the Carpinteria – Summerland Fire Protection District embarked on a planning process from the ground up. The process began with a weekend workshop attended by all levels of the organization from new hire firefighters to Board of Directors members. The emphasis of this workshop was to set a mission and values statement. Once determined by the group the motto and reason for existence was established and agreed upon.

In 2009 the workshop went further to set a vision for the organization as well as an immediate (one year) strategic plan. In 2010 a management consultant was used by the District to assist in evaluating the personal leadership capacities of each manager and mid manger in the organization.

In 2011 the Fire Chief set upon a monthly schedule to develop the following 10-year master plan. A series of sessions were held and all levels of the organization were invited to attend for input. Some sessions gained minimal attendance while others had an abundant amount of input from both safety and civilian employee. The results of those sessions in 2011 are contained herein.

Planning is an on-going and continuous process. It is the intent of this document to set the “road map” for the future into motion. But in no way are the goals and objectives set in concrete and unchangeable. The process is flexible and will require constant oversight. The authors of the plan will commit to annually, if not more often, to review the progress in an organization wide setting. The intent being to evaluate our progress, the relevance of the goals and the considering of new directions if required.

And finally it is worthwhile stating is that a plan is no better that the paper it is written on. The document does not make the plan a reality. The employees and Directors of the Fire District make the plan a reality. We the authors commit to making this plan a reality.

Michael D. Mingee
Fire Chief