09/24/2026
Tule River Fire Department holds up Engineer April Moon's family and friends in our thoughts and prayers during the mourning of her passing.
The Yurok Tribe and Yurok Fire Department are deeply saddened by the unexpected passing of Engineer and beloved Yurok citizen April Moon.
April began her firefighting career in 2023 through the Fire Department’s Women in Fire Program, which helps pave the way for more women to enter the profession.
She was a courageous and tenacious firefighter and an emerging leader within the department. Her strong work ethic, critical thinking skills and physical abilities enabled her to quickly advance from Firefighter I to Engineer. She was on track to earn a promotion to Captain before the end of 2027.
“April’s discipline, attention to detail and dedication to service made her an exceptional firefighter. She was always well-organized and ready to give it her all. She also made sure everyone had what they needed to succeed,” said Yurok Fire Chief Rod Mendes. “April’s passing is a tremendous loss to the department and all who had the privilege of working alongside her.”
As a firefighter, April was deployed across the United States to protect communities from wildfire. Most notably, she spent 14 days on the Castaic Fire in Southern California.
April was a top performer within the Yurok Fire Department’s preeminently trained and highly motivated crew. She was best known for her generous spirit and infectiously optimistic attitude. She maintained this positive mindset despite the intense physical and mental demands of the job, which required working long hours in heat and smoke and traversing steep terrain, while packing up to 50 pounds of firefighting equipment.
Outside of the fire season, April helped manage fuels on Yurok lands to keep her community safe. Earlier this year, she served on a crew that created defensible space around 50 homes between Weitchpec and Wautec. From the start of her firefighting career, she was involved in cultural burning projects on the reservation.
In addition to being a professional firefighter and cultural burn practitioner, April was a devoted mother. She joined the fire department to provide the best possible life for her family and would make any sacrifice for her children. April cherished her family, culture, community, and fellow firefighters.
Prior to becoming a firefighter, April worked with children through the Yurok Education Department’s Head Start program.
The Yurok Fire Department sends sincere condolences to April’s family and friends. It is heartbreaking to lose a young woman who dedicated her life to the protection of others.
The Yurok Tribe and Yurok Fire Department are providing support to tribal employees and community members, who are processing profound grief. Professional mental health resources are available for all Yurok Tribal staff, including firefighters.
All Yurok Fire Department personnel have been granted one week of administrative leave to mourn and focus on their well-being during this difficult time.
There will be a procession of fire engines and personnel on Saturday morning to honor the life of Yurok Fire Department Engineer April Moon. The procession will depart from the Hoopa Fire Station at 10 a.m..
