California Conservation Camp Program

Last updated

Incarcerated firefighters fight the Rim Fire in California in 2013 Rim Fire 20130817-FS-UNK-0040 (9665093532).jpg
Incarcerated firefighters fight the Rim Fire in California in 2013

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) runs 44 conservation camps (also called fire camps) jointly with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) and the Los Angeles County Fire Department. The mission of the Conservation Camp program is to "support state, local and federal government agencies as they respond to emergencies such as fires, floods, and other natural or manmade disasters." Over 3,000 incarcerated people work at the conservation camps each year, including men, women, and juveniles, all of whom have volunteered for the program. All volunteers receive the same entry-level training as CAL FIRE's seasonal firefighters. [1]

Contents

CAL FIRE reported 3,500 incarcerated firefighters in its 2018-2019 staffing numbers, making incarcerated firefighters approximately 27% of the total firefighting capacity of the state. [2]

History

Conservation camps are an evolution of "road camps" staffed by incarcerated people, first formally authorized by the California state legislature in 1915 to build roads and railroads, respond to environmental issues, and participate in some types of agriculture. [3] In response to firefighter labor shortages during World War II, the Rainbow Conservation Camp was established as the first permanent fire camp, in 1946. It was modeled after New Deal Civilian Conservation Corps camps.

The program grew to 16 camps throughout California in the 40s and 50s, including the first youth camps. In 1959, California Senate Bill 516 authorized expansion of the program, motivated by the comparatively cheap cost of housing and paying incarcerated laborer for firefighting and environmental programs, the belief that the program was effective at rehabilitation, and a desire to reduce overcrowding inside prisons. Between 1959 and 1966, the program grew to 42 camps staffed by 2,880 incarcerated people, or 8.7% of the prison population at that time. [4]

Camp funding and therefore staffing declined under the Governorship of Ronald Reagan from 1967 to 1975, before a resurgence in the 1980s emphasizing cost savings rather than rehabilitation. The first conservation camp for women was opened in 1983 with the conversion of the Rainbow Conservation Camp from a men's camp to a women's camp. Per a 1990 pamphlet published by the CDCR, "As they repay their debt to society, camp inmates also provide a real economic benefit to local communities. In 1989 alone, camp inmates worked 5.5 million hours—a $43 million value". [5]

Per a CDCR news report, as of 2007 "Approximately 200 crews log an average of more than three million person hours a year fighting wildfires and responding to floods, earthquakes, and search and rescue missions. [...] When not responding to emergencies, crews put in an additional seven million hours every year working on conservation projects on public lands and community service projects. Fire crews clean up campgrounds, beaches and parks on city, county and state land and provide the labor for weed abatement and other projects that help reduce the risk of fires and other disasters." The report also stated that use of incarcerated labor in Conservation Camps save the state more than $80 million annually. [6]

Staffing

Aerial view of Sierra Conservation Center, a California prison and one of the major training facilities for incarcerated firefighters Aerial view of Sierra Conservation Center.png
Aerial view of Sierra Conservation Center, a California prison and one of the major training facilities for incarcerated firefighters
Incarcerated firefighters clear a fire line near Santa Barbara, California in December 2017 Incarcerated firefighters clear a fire line.jpg
Incarcerated firefighters clear a fire line near Santa Barbara, California in December 2017

Today, approximately 3,100 incarcerated people live and work out of 44 camps run by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation in conjunction with either CAL FIRE or the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Camps are structured as open dormitories, with dining and maintenance activities staffed by incarcerated people and supervised by correctional staff. The two active camps for women are Malibu Conservation Camp and Puerta la Cruz. Most youth camps have been converted to camps for adult men, with one remaining youth camp at Pine Grove.

Work varies by camp but often includes:

Programs vary by camp but often include:

Mobile Fire Kitchen Units, deployed to feed responders and displaced community members in emergencies like fires and earthquakes, are primarily staffed by incarcerated workers from conservation camps. [7]

Conservation camps in the news

Conservation camps received increased public scrutiny in the late 2000s after a series of damaging fires in the state, with concerns about the safety of incarcerated firefighters, their compensation, and their inability to become firefighters upon release. Two incarcerated firefighters at Bautista Conservation Camp died in a 1990 fire, and many crew members were injured. [8] Three incarcerated firefighters died on the job in 2017 and 2018. [9] In response to one media inquiry about conditions and pay, a CDCR spokesperson stated that firefighters earn $2.90 - $5.12 per day, with an additional $1 per hour when assigned to an active emergency. [10]

Citing a San Francisco Chronicle article about a bill to remove restrictions on formerly incarcerated firefighters becoming career firefighters upon release, 2020 presidential candidate Julian Castro tweeted "In California, incarcerated people are risking their lives battling wildfires for $1/hour. [11] [12] Yet these same people are barred from firefighting after release. It's wrong. If you can save lives serving a sentence, you can save lives when you're released." [13] The bill did not pass.

In September 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 2147, which allows inmate firefighters to petition courts to dismiss their convictions after completing their sentences. This would provide a path for former prisoners to obtain EMT certification on release, a frequent requirement for hiring or advancement as a firefighter. [14]

Fire Country is an American drama television series in which a young convict volunteers for the Conservation Camp Program. [15]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Folsom State Prison</span> Prison in Folsom, California, United States

Folsom California State Prison is a California State Prison in Folsom, California, U.S., approximately 20 miles (32 km) northeast of the state capital of Sacramento. It is one of 34 adult institutions operated by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California Men's Colony</span> American male-only state prison

California Men's Colony (CMC) is a male-only state prison located northwest of the city of San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo County, California, along the central California coast approximately halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation</span> Law enforcement agency in California, USA

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) is the penal law enforcement agency of the government of California responsible for the operation of the California state prison and parole systems. Its headquarters are in Sacramento.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California Institution for Men</span> State prison in Chino, California

California Institution for Men (CIM) is a male-only state prison located in the city of Chino, San Bernardino County, California. It is often colloquially referenced as "Chino". In turn, locals call the prison "Chino Men's" or just "Men's" to avoid confusion with the city itself.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection</span> Agency in California

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection is the fire department of the California Natural Resources Agency in the U.S. state of California. It is responsible for fire protection in various areas under state responsibility totaling 31 million acres, as well as the administration of the state's private and public forests. In addition, the department provides varied emergency services in 36 of the state's 58 counties via contracts with local governments. The department's current director is Joe Tyler, who was appointed March 4, 2022, by Governor of California Gavin Newsom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Avenal State Prison</span> Male-only state prison in the city of Avenal, Kings County, California, United States

Avenal State Prison (ASP) is a male-only state prison in the city of Avenal, Kings County, California, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California State Prison, Centinela</span> Male-only state prison located in Imperial County, California

California State Prison, Centinela (CEN) is a male-only state prison located in Imperial County, California, approximately 20 miles (32 km) from Imperial and El Centro. The facility is sometimes referenced Centinela State Prison.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California Correctional Center</span>

California Correctional Center (CCC) was a state prison in the city of Susanville in Northern California. It was a minimum-security facility.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California Correctional Institution</span> Supermax prison located near Tehachapi, California

California Correctional Institution (CCI) is a supermax state prison in the city of Tehachapi in southern California. CCI is sometimes referred to as "Tehachapi prison" or "Tehachapi". As stated by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, its overall mission is "to incarcerate and control felons, while providing the opportunity for meaningful work, training and other programs. The prison provides programs for those inmates who are willing to work and participate fully in available programs."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California State Prison, Sacramento</span>

California State Prison, Sacramento (SAC) is a male-only state prison located in the city of Folsom, in Sacramento County, California. The facility is also referenced as Sacramento State Prison, CSP-Sacramento, CSP-SAC, and occasionally, New Folsom or New Folsom Prison which was its official name prior to October 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prisons in California</span>

The California State Prison System is a system of prisons, fire camps, contract beds, reentry programs, and other special programs administered by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) Division of Adult Institutions to incarcerate approximately 117,000 people as of April 2020. CDCR owns and operates 34 prisons throughout the state and operates 1 prison leased from a private company.

Correctional Training Facility (CTF), commonly referenced as Soledad State Prison, is a state prison located on U.S. Route 101, 5 miles (8.0 km) north of Soledad, California, adjacent to Salinas Valley State Prison.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sierra Conservation Center</span>

Sierra Conservation Center (SCC) is a 420-acre (170 ha) state prison located in Tuolumne County, California, near the unincorporated community of Jamestown. Programs offered to prisoners include education, firefighting training, and sewing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wasco State Prison</span> American prison in California

Wasco State Prison-Reception Center (WSP) is a 634-acre (257 ha) state prison located in Wasco, Kern County, California.

The California Prison Industry Authority (CALPIA) manages over 100 manufacturing, service, and consumable industries within the 35 California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) institutions. It is overseen by the 11-member Prison Industry Board, which is chaired by the CDCR Secretary. CALPIA has more than 8,000 offender assignments in career technical education programs, manufacturing, agricultural, consumable, and service enterprises. CALPIA's administration offices are in Folsom, CA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Penal labor in the United States</span>

In the United States, penal labor is a multi-billion-dollar industry. Annually, incarcerated workers provide at least $9 billion in services to the prison system and produce more than $2 billion in goods. The industry underwent many transitions throughout the late 19th and early and mid 20th centuries. Legislation such as the Hawes-Cooper Act of 1929 placed limitations on the trade of prison-made goods. Federal establishment of the Federal Prison Industries (FPI) in 1934 revitalized the prison labor system following the Great Depression. Increases in prison labor participation began in 1979 with the formation of the Prison Industry Enhancement Certification Program (PIECP). The PIECP is a federal program first authorized under the Justice System Improvement Act of 1979. Approved by Congress in 1990 for indefinite continuation, the program legalizes the transportation of prison-made goods across state lines and allows prison inmates to earn market wages in private sector jobs that can go towards tax deductions, victim compensation, family support, and room and board.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pilot Fire</span> 2016 wildfire in Southern California

The Pilot Fire was a wildfire that burned near Silverwood Lake in San Bernardino County, California. The fire started at about 12:10 pm on Sunday, August 7, 2016, near the Miller Canyon OHV area off California State Route 138.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California Health Care Facility</span> State prison in Stockton, California

California Health Care Facility (CHCF) is a state prison for incarcerated patients with long-term medical needs or acute mental health needs. The prison is located in Stockton, California, on the site of the former Karl Holton Youth Correctional Facility. Incarcerated people of all security levels are treated at the facility.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Incarceration in California</span> Overview of incarceration in the U.S. state of California

Incarceration in California spans federal, state, county, and city governance, with approximately 200,000 people in confinement at any given time. An additional 55,000 people are on parole.

References

  1. ↑ Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. "Conservation (Fire) Camps". California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Archived from the original on March 29, 2020. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  2. ↑ CAL FIRE (September 2018). "CAL FIRE at a Glance" (PDF). CAL FIRE. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 29, 2020. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  3. ↑ Ward M. McAfee (1990). "A History of Convict Labor in California" (PDF). Southern California Quarterly. 72 (1): 19–40. doi:10.2307/41171510. JSTOR   41171510 . Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  4. ↑ Kaelyn Frances Polick-Kirkpatrick (December 2019). "Prisons in the Wildlands: A Critical Look Into the Historical Development and Implications of California Conservation Camps" (PDF). University of Oregon. p. 29. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 29, 2020. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  5. ↑ Kaelyn Frances Polick-Kirkpatrick (December 2019). "Prisons in the Wildlands: A Critical Look Into the Historical Development and Implications of California Conservation Camps" (PDF). University of Oregon. p. 36. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 29, 2020. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  6. ↑ Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. "CDCR's Inmate Firefighter Crews Gear Up for the 2007 Fire Season". California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Archived from the original on March 29, 2020. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  7. ↑ CAL FIRE (January 2008). "CAL FIRE Mobile Kitchen Units (MKUs)" (PDF). CAL FIRE. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 29, 2020. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  8. ↑ Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. "Bautista Conservation Camp #36". California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Archived from the original on March 29, 2020. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  9. ↑ Ted Goldberg. "Rare Honors This Weekend for Inmate Firefighters Killed on the Job". KQED. Archived from the original on March 29, 2020. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  10. ↑ Kevin Stark and Ted Goldberg. "Inmates Saved Homes in the Kincade Fire. They'll Face an Uphill Battle Getting Firefighting Jobs After Release". KQED. Archived from the original on March 29, 2020. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  11. ↑ "Bill Text - AB-1211 Firefighters". leginfo.legislature.ca.gov. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  12. ↑ Megan Cassidy (March 10, 2019). "Bill would help California's inmate firefighters pursue career after release". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on March 29, 2020. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  13. ↑ Julian Castro [@JulianCastro] (October 29, 2019). "In California, incarcerated people are risking their lives battling wildfires for $1/hour. Yet these same people are barred from firefighting after release. It's wrong. If you can save lives serving a sentence, you can save lives when you're released" (Tweet). Archived from the original on March 29, 2020. Retrieved March 29, 2020– via Twitter.
  14. ↑ Romo, Vanessa (September 11, 2020). "California Bill Clears Path for Ex-Inmates to Become Firefighters". NPR.
  15. ↑ Rogers, Nate (November 4, 2022). "'Fire Country,' a new show about Cal Fire, is a hit. Just not with Cal Fire". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.