June 18, 2026
Yocha Dehe Fire Department’s Youth Academy in its 7th year.
Kids from across the Yolo County area are learning what it’s like to respond to emergencies and battle fires at the Yocha Dehe Fire Department’s training center in Brooks.
For a second week in a row, 20 middle and high school age cadets are getting lessons in live fire behavior and life-saving skills.
“This is what I want to do going forward,” said cadet Emily Crowe. “The heat might scare me away a little bit, but this is definitely what I want to do.”
Through hands-on trial and error, cadets are training in how to respond to several types of emergencies.
“We get that experience every single day,” Crowe said. “They make sure everyone has a chance to do everything. They push you to be better.”
And that’s precisely what tribal leadership says this camp is all about.
“I am so proud of our kids being able to be educated through our department,” Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation secretary Mia Durham said. “It’s a huge and proud moment for us to see these children getting engaged. It’s really gonna help them in the future.”
Building its firefighting force of the future is important — especially now — according to the department’s firefighters.
“It’s difficult to find young people that want to go into the fire service,” said Yocha Dehe firefighter/paramedic Cole McGowan. “I know that sounds surprising, but departments all over the state and even the region are looking for people who are ready to commit to serve their communities.”
So the cadets try their hands at skills ranging from working with ladders and hose lines to breaking into buildings and rappelling from heights, all while building confidence so they know they can make it no matter where their paths lead.
“Life skills. Leadership skills. Job skills for interviews,” McGowan explained about what the cadets take away from camp. “We just want to prepare these youth for success whether they get to come and join us, or whether they just go out to be one of the best they can be for their community.”
This is the seventh year the Yocha Dehe Fire Department has hosted its youth academy.