Father, Daughter Bond Over Fire Academy Training in El Paso

Twelve-year-old Alyanna Garcia completed the El Paso Fire Department's Summer Youth Academy this month, training alongside her father, Battalion Chief Miguel Garcia, who has served with the department for 20 years, according to KVIA.

The academy, which ran for two weeks earlier this summer, was split into two sessions organized by age group. Participants aged 10 to 17 learned fire safety, search-and-rescue operations, and teamwork through hands-on training.

Miguel Garcia said he first encouraged his daughter to apply. "She was very excited to participate," he told KVIA. "So it's a good opportunity for me to show her what I had to go through in my academy. It's a small glimpse of what I had to endure."

During the training, Garcia watched his daughter complete several physical challenges, including rappelling off a five-story training tower. He coached her through the descent. "It's a proud moment for me to see her navigate through those challenges mentally and physically," he said. "And it's a proud moment for me as a father to see her, you know, tough it out and do the small things that her dad got to do."

Alyanna said she had previously considered nursing as a career but wanted to experience what her father went through at the academy. "I wanted to feel how, what my dad went through when he was going through the fire camp," she told KVIA.

The academy curriculum included team-building exercises, physical training, and trauma care instruction. After completing the program, Alyanna said she is now considering a firefighting career. "The work that he does really inspires me to come each day and do the best I can," she said.