A New Path From Fire Camps to Firefighting Careers
For many people in California’s prisons, fighting wildfires offers more than a chance to serve their communities. The work pays better than other prison jobs and can bring purpose and variety to daily life. Incarcerated crews account for roughly half of the state’s firefighters.
A new state law aims to help those firefighters turn their experience into careers after release. Signed by Governor Gavin Newsom, AB 2483 establishes standardized ways to certify their training and gives qualified former fire-camp workers priority for certain entry-level jobs with Cal Fire.
“The bill tells incarcerated firefighters that their hard-earned experience counts,” said Royal Ramey, chief executive of the nonprofit Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program.
Ramey knows why that recognition matters. After fighting fires while incarcerated, he hesitated to use a certificate that identified where he had earned it. He instead completed a conventional firefighting academy. He hopes others will be able to present their experience with confidence when seeking work.
Ramey’s organization worked with Los Angeles Democrat Sade Elhawary to advance the bill, addressing concerns raised during an earlier effort, including those of Cal Fire’s union.
By 2028, the program is intended to give people who fought fires while incarcerated a clearer route to firefighting jobs—and the opportunity to build lasting careers.
