30 Percent of California's Forest Firefighters Are Prisoners

[nadinbrzezinski]

15. More than one of these guys and gals

ends up leaving the prison crews and straight into a good job with both CAL FIRE and the USF. Like most, at first they are seasonal employees. More than one has made fire fighting a career as well and having been part of the program allows their future employer to have like direct character references from well... FIRE CAPTAINS in charge of the crews. Did I mention those jobs can lead to a potential career with a UNION employer? Or if USF with federal benefits?

That is the part that the mother jones article did not cover. And for the record, the reason why everybody's face is not visible is because CAL FIRE, who runs the program, asks that their faces are not shown, to protect them from any retribution, And we have shared more than one gallon, yes gallons, of water with prison crews on the fire lines. They are always surprised that we really don't give a shit they are wearing orange instead of yellow.

When you talk to some of the crews, over water... and in between hard physical labor, they will tell you that they like it. The camps, like Porta La Cruz and La Cima, are far better housings and food and conditions than prison. And they do not have to deal with Corrections officers either. The attitude of most CAL FIRE captains is, you are a firefighter first, period, end of discussion.

The program started in the 1950s and participants have the lowest recidivism rate of all the prison system. Are there downsides? Yes... plenty, like not allowing people to go, since fire season is upon us. And you might argue the pay, which is actually higher than inside the walls. Again, another factoid they did not mention.