California’s Incarcerated Firefighters Make A Change

January 27, 2025 2

The sight of incarcerated firefighters battling California’s relentless wildfires often raises more questions than answers. Is this program a valuable opportunity for rehabilitation and redemption, or is it an exploitative system that undervalues human life? My own experience witnessing inmate firefighters in Altadena prompted reflection, but a conversation with Sam Lewis, Executive Director of the Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC), offers a deeper perspective.

Driving through Altadena’s Meadows neighborhood days after the Eaton wildfire broke out, I saw a group of wildfire fighters working hard to clear brush. Their uniforms identified them as participants in California’s Conservation Camp Program, which trains incarcerated individuals to assist professional firefighters. As of January 17, there are 1,116 Fire Camp firefighters working on fires across Los Angeles. When I stopped to thank them, one man shyly asked if I could take their photo. But when I tried to ask questions about their work, they said they weren’t allowed to respond.

This brief encounter left me with a mix of admiration for their bravery and discomfort with the restrictions imposed on them. I couldn’t help but wonder—was this program truly about rehabilitation, or was it a form of modern-day exploitation?

Voluntary, but Not for Everyone

Lewis highlighted the program’s evolution over the years. “In 2018, we worked with CAL FIRE and the Department of Corrections to create a pathway for participants to become professional firefighters after release. Now, people can go to the Ventura Training Center, earn certifications like Firefighter Type 1 and EMT, and start careers. Over 200 formerly incarcerated people have become firefighters since then, including three in Orange County.”

Written by: BLOCKZPROMOTIONS

Rate it