LOS ANGELES — As deadly wildfires rage across the Los Angeles area, corrections officers and trained incarcerated firefighters have joined the fight to combat the Eaton and Palisades fires.
These teams, part of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s (CDCR) Conservation Camp Program, are providing crucial support to CAL FIRE’s efforts to contain the flames.
CDCR operates 35 conservation camps throughout the state, which are designed to assist in responding to emergencies like wildfires, floods and other disasters. As of Jan. 15, 1,116 Fire Camp firefighters and 138 CDCR staff have been working tirelessly to cut fire lines and remove fuel from behind structures, helping to slow the spread of the fires threatening homes and communities.
Known as hand crews, these firefighting teams rely on hand tools to suppress wildland fires, focusing on tasks like cutting fire lines and clearing vegetation, rather than using water or hoses, CDCR says.
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Many incarcerated firefighters said the program provides not only an opportunity to give back but also a sense of pride and purpose.
“I’m saving lives. I’m saving the community,” one incarcerated firefighter said while working on the frontlines.
Another added, “It makes me feel really good inside, and that’s something I didn’t think I’d get to do in this type of situation. It makes me proud to give back to the community.”
The program also offers participants valuable skills they can carry forward after their release.
“The incarcerated firefighter population provides a very valuable service to the state and the community while gaining skills and tools to develop careers, provide for their families, and lead fulfilling, productive lives,” a corrections officer from Eureka said.
The Los Angeles area has faced a relentless battle against record-breaking wildfires that started on Jan. 6. By Jan. 15, 24 people had died in the fires, with dozens more still unaccounted for. In the midst of this devastation, the contributions of CDCR’s conservation camp participants highlight the critical role of teamwork and community effort in combating natural disasters.
