A firefighter who’s spent more than three decades in the Tri-Counties dealing with some of the region’s biggest disasters is retiring. Kevin Taylor is stepping down as Montecito’s Fire Chief March 31.
Taylor became a seasonal firefighter in 1987, battling wildfires around the state. In 1992 he joined the Paso Robles Fire Department, where he stayed for 24 years.
In 2015, Taylor joined the Montecito Fire Department as Division Chief of Operations. He helped guide the community through the Thomas Wildfire, and the worst disaster in the community’s history, the Montecito debris flow. Taylor was promoted to Fire Chief in 2019.
Taylor informed Fire District officials last October about his retirement plans. They are promoting current Division Chief of Operations Dave Neels to the chief’s post April 1.
