Ghoti Ichthus
Genesis 18:32, 2 Chronicles 7:14, Acts 5:29
Something good coming out of the fires 
Sarah Roebuck
"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 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.
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."
More
www.corrections1.com
By Brian Niemietz
New York Daily News
"LOS ANGELES — Nearly 800 prison inmates have been temporarily freed to assist firefighters in controlling the deadly Southern California wildfires that have burned with no end in sight since Tuesday.
Those inmates are part of a minimum-security Conservation Camp Program consisting of 35 “fire camps” spread throughout California. The camps are staffed by more than 1,800 incarcerated crew members, who provide crucial support during emergencies including floods and fires.
“As of today, 783 Fire Camp firefighters have been working around the clock cutting fire lines and removing fuel from behind structures to slow fire spread,” the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) confirmed to the Daily News on Thursday.
Roughly half of those firefighting inmates were released on Wednesday, while the other half suited up Thursday. They’re accompanied by 88 support staff."
More
www.corrections1.com
Conservation Fire Camps Program
More
www.cdcr.ca.gov
‘Saving the community': COs, inmate firefighters detail what it means to fight the L.A. fires
More than 1,100 inmate firefighters and 138 CDCR staff members have been deployed to the Eaton and Palisades fires to help slow fire spread
January 15, 2025 03:34 PM •Sarah Roebuck
"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 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.
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."
More
'Saving the community': COs, inmate firefighters detail what it means to fight the L.A. fires
More than 1,100 inmate firefighters and 138 CDCR staff members have been deployed to the Eaton and Palisades fires to help slow fire spread
www.corrections1.com
Nearly 800 incarcerated firefighters bolster efforts to contain L.A. wildfires
Incarcerated firefighters from California’s Conservation Camp Program are assisting overwhelmed fire crews as flames destroy thousands of structures
January 10, 2025 10:12 AMBy Brian Niemietz
New York Daily News
"LOS ANGELES — Nearly 800 prison inmates have been temporarily freed to assist firefighters in controlling the deadly Southern California wildfires that have burned with no end in sight since Tuesday.
Those inmates are part of a minimum-security Conservation Camp Program consisting of 35 “fire camps” spread throughout California. The camps are staffed by more than 1,800 incarcerated crew members, who provide crucial support during emergencies including floods and fires.
“As of today, 783 Fire Camp firefighters have been working around the clock cutting fire lines and removing fuel from behind structures to slow fire spread,” the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) confirmed to the Daily News on Thursday.
Roughly half of those firefighting inmates were released on Wednesday, while the other half suited up Thursday. They’re accompanied by 88 support staff."
More
Nearly 800 incarcerated firefighters bolster efforts to contain L.A. wildfires
Incarcerated firefighters from California’s Conservation Camp Program are assisting overwhelmed fire crews as flames destroy thousands of structures
www.corrections1.com
Conservation Fire Camps Program
"The primary mission of the Conservation (Fire) Camp Program is to support state, local and federal government agencies as they respond to emergencies including fires, floods, and other natural disasters. Additionally, hand crews respond to rescue efforts in local parks or flood suppression."
"CDCR is responsible for the selection, supervision and discipline of camp participants. CAL FIRE maintains the camps, supervises the work of the hand crews, and is responsible for crew custody while on assignments.
Crews are directly supervised 24 hours per day on work projects and while assigned to emergencies."More
Conservation (Fire) Camps Program
Read more about how the Conservation Camp Program supports the rehabilitation of incarcerated people in California.
www.cdcr.ca.gov
