Chelan Co. Fire District Fuels Tech Center Program with Donated Engine

By: Katie Williams
Wenatchee School District Communications Intern

The Wenatchee Valley Technical Skills Center’s Fire Science program recently received its largest donation yet: a 1984 Seagraves fire engine. 

The donation, made by Chelan County Fire District 1, is the first fire truck the program has received and the latest contribution by central Washington fire departments that fuel the fire science program. In fact, all of the firefighting equipment used by students is the result of donation, according to WVTS fire science instructor David Young. “The students would not get the learning experiences they do without donations,” Young said. The program is able to train students using tools they may go on to use in their careers, including providing them with full protective gear to practice drills. He admitted that the implementation of remote learning would be difficult for his hands-on lessons, but he is hopeful for the future.

The addition of the fire truck provides an opportunity to boost the fire science curriculum. Teaching the skills associated with the trucks will be valuable to students seeking a career in firefighting, Young said. He stated his plans include lessons in safety procedures, loading and unloading equipment, and navigating the vehicle’s controls. Young emphasized his desire to run the fire science program as much like a team of firefighters as he can, even modeling the warehouse where lessons take place after a fire station. “I don’t go easy on them,” he said of his more physically challenging drills, “and the students really rise to the challenge. Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, so they learn the value of working as a team.”

And Young’s teaching philosophy has yielded results. He spoke of graduates who have gone on to work for local fire departments, get additional firefighting certifications, or use their skills in the military. His students even competed nationally at SkillsUSA firefighting competitions in 2018 and 2019. Young stressed the importance of local donations in his students’ success, stating that without the support of local fire departments from Chelan, Douglas, and Grant County, the program as it is could not exist. 

For more information about the WVTS fire science program website visit or contact the staff at Wenatchee Valley Tech. 

Katie Williams is a '16 graduate of Wenatchee High School and is currently serving as an intern in the Wenatchee School District Communications Dept. Katie holds a AA from WVC ('16), and a BA in English, major in Creative & Professional Writing, minor in Math & Linguistics from CWU ('19).