WATSONVILLE—Thirteen area youths graduated from the Watsonville Fire Department’s summer Youth Academy on June 23.
As a part of the two-week program, which was mothballed for the past two years due to the pandemic, the teens learned the ins and outs of firefighting and the history of the Watsonville Fire Department. They also learned the steps to becoming a firefighter.
“I love this program,” said Karla Avila, who graduated from the program previously and was on hand Thursday as a volunteer. “The mentoring, the coaching, the discipline—all of it is so valuable.”
Chief Rudy Lopez said the program serves as a tool to “strengthen the youth of our community. There’s a lot of hope in our youth and this is a great avenue for them to prove it.”
Delylah Navarro said she joined the academy to learn about firefighting.
“I want to learn what they do and how they do it,” she said. “I was nervous at first but it was definitely worth it.”
David Cruz Aguilar said he wanted to train to someday become a firefighter.
“The training has been amazing, the firefighters, the engineers—they teach you so much,” he said. “It’s been amazing.”
The second session of the academy will run from July 26 to Aug. 6. Measure Y funds are being used for the program.
