Girls Empowerment Camp sparks fire of inspiration for young girls

CONCORD, CA (June 30, 2025) — While firefighting has long been a male-dominated profession, dozens of young women on hand for a May weekend camp may be the next generation of recruits willing to continue challenging the status quo.

Held at the Contra Costa County Fire Training Center on Treat Boulevard Training Center May 17 and 18, the inaugural Girls Empowerment Camp, a joint venter of the Contra Costa Fire Foundation and Contra Costa County Fire Protection District, exposed 50 participants to different aspects of a career in the profession, including search and rescue, EMS, hose and nozzle training, Fire Service 101, forcible entry and ventilation.

Currently in Con Fire there are 431 total firefighters up the rank of Battalion Chief, which includes 11 females.

Firefighter Deandra Van Houten, a 10-year firefighter who took the lead in organizing the event, made it clear to her young charges that the weekend was not simply about putting on the gear and playing with fire engines.

“It’s about giving you, the youth of our community the opportunity to learn, grow and see yourself in a role that too often goes unseen by young teenagers,” she said. “It’s about breaking down barriers and showing that the fire service is not just for the strong, but the brave. Not just the tough, but the determined.”

Up for the challenge

Lilly Roberts, from Concord, who joined others in using specialty tools at one of the stations to gain entry into a room, was among those up for the challenge.

“I wish I had heard of this sooner,” she said with a big grin, looking over at another station where they would be using chain saws.

Van Houten didn’t sugar-coat that their two-day camp was going to be anything but a walk in the park. But noted it would give them a glimpse of what it takes to become a firefighter and they would train hard under the watchful eye of her female peers and their male colleagues.

Van Houten spotlighted Theresa Watkins, Clair Watkins, Kadie Bruce, Rachel Gregory, Brittany Medina, Rachel Garrett and Makenzie Gould – who lent their time and talents for the camp.

“You’ll be challenged mentally, physically and emotionally,” she said. “You’re going to be pushed out of your comfort zone. You’ll sweat. You might struggle. And, yes, you may even doubt yourself in moments.”

In offering those words, she added that all the firefighters the campers see surrounding them on the event’s training ground has felt what they will be experiencing.

“Everyone of has had to dig deep and find strength we didn’t know we had,” said Van Houten. “You have that same strength within you. Remember – growth lives on the other side of discomfort.”

Van Houten lauded Con Fire’s Chief Lewis Broschard for his belief in opening doors and creating space for the next generation.

Broschard, in addressing the first group to take on the challenges the camp offers, hoped the hands-on activities to be experienced would “provide that spark” to pursue careers in the fire service.

“You can do this!” he extolled the young women.

David Scholz

David Scholz is back in journalism as a freelance writer and photographer after nearly two decades in education. Prior to moving into teaching in 2000, he worked as a full-time journalist since 1988 for rural community and small daily newspapers in Central Ohio and Northern Nevada, and later in California with The Business Journal in Fresno and dailies in the Bay Area, including The Oakland Tribune and The San Francisco Chronicle. More recently Scholz also worked in an editing, writing, and page layout role with the Rossmoor News.