November 1, 2013
The Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation Fire Department is a recognized and very active partner with the Forest Service. In 2013, this partnership increased as the YDFD has responded to eight different incidents to date, including the Hoag Fire on the Plumas National Forest and the Rim fire in Tuolumne County. In August, four YDFD paramedics were deployed to the Orleans Complex fire in the Six River National Forest, where two fires merged to burn 21,680 acres.
Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation also collaborates on an array of projects with other Tribes in the region, helping to preserve and protect culture and history, develop educational opportunity and build healthy communities. Its work with neighboring tribes includes fire response and assistance with developing their own Tribal fire departments.
YDFD is the only internationally accredited Tribal fire department in the world, and has already earned a reputation for working well with state and local partners. The Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation Fire Department and Forest Service look forward to growing their strong working partnership, including the development of coordinated fire trainings. With the threat of wild-fire growing dangerously, as Secretary Vilsak pointed out, the FS and Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation share a critical goal: to bolster local, Tribal and FS wildfire preparedness and response in the region.