Kent Wickstrom is Yocha Dehe Fire Department’s assistant fire chief. Kent was raised in Davis, Calif. and graduated from Davis Senior High School. He is a veteran of the U.S. Navy and attended American River College where he earned his associate’s degree in fire science. Kent is a Certified Chief Officer with the state of California.
Bill Peterson is a Yocha Dehe Fire Department battalion chief. Bill was born in San Rafael, Calif. and graduated from Oroville High School. He attended UC Davis, where one of his football teammates mentioned the resident firefighter program at the UC Davis Fire Department and Bill was inspired to apply. Following acceptance into the program, Bill became the operator of the 1967 Seagrave 100’ aerial ladder truck after his first year.
Doug Smith joined the Yocha Dehe Fire Department as a battalion chief in March 2004. He brings 30 years fire service experience to the organization. Doug has been a credentialed fire service instructor since 1985, is past president of the Northern California Training Officers Association, and is a member of the California Fire Chiefs’ Association.
Susie Lopez is the administrative assistant at Yocha Dehe Fire Department. She was born and raised in Woodland and graduated from Woodland High School.
Barney Eberhardy is the master mechanic at the Yocha Dehe Fire Department. Barney joined YDFD in June 2004, but started his fire service career many years ago in Wisconsin.
Barney grew up on a farm in northern Wisconsin and helped his dad repair automobiles at the family-owned gas station. In 1957, at age 18, Barney got his first real job as a mechanic with FWD Corporation.
Crystal Smyth is the Yocha Dehe Fire Department’s business analyst. She was born and raised in Woodland and graduated from Woodland High School in 2002. Crystal received her bachelor’s degree from UC Davis with a degree in international agriculture business. She then continued to Chico State University, where she earned her Single Subject Agriculture and Specialist credentials.
