Wildfires are a defining challenge for California, demanding thousands of trained personnel every fire season. Among those who step up to the front lines are incarcerated individuals working in the state’s long-running fire camp program. For decades, these firefighters have played a vital but often overlooked role in protecting communities. Now, lawmakers are considering new legislation that could change how their service is recognized once they leave custody. California Assembly Bill 1380 proposes a pathway to formal certification and employment opportunities, sparking conversation about rehabilitation, workforce needs, and public safety. This week, a look at the program, and the legislation that could change everything.
Historical Background: Wildfire Pressure and Firefighting from Behind Bars
California’s wildfire environment has transformed dramatically over recent decades. In 2020, the state experienced its largest modern fire season, with 8,648 wildfires burning more than 4.3 million acres, which is over 4 percent of California’s land. These fires destroyed more than 11,000 structures and resulted in 33 fatalities. That same year included the August Complex Fire, California’s first recorded “gigafire,” which burned more than one million acres across seven counties.
More recently, the 2023 fire season showed some improvement, with 7,386 wildfires that burned about 333,000 acres. That figure was well below the five-year average, although the state still lost four lives and suffered damage to homes and businesses. In 2024, California saw 8,024 wildfires that burned over 1 million acres, destroyed 1,716 structures, and caused one death. That was the highest number of acres burned since 2021, although the overall human impact was somewhat smaller than in previous years.
The 2025 season has proven particularly damaging. By early September, California reported 6,928 wildfires that had burned more than 525,000 acres and destroyed over 16,500 structures. Two fires stand out this year for their scale and destruction. The Palisades Fire damaged 973 structures and destroyed nearly 6,900 more. It caused 12 confirmed civilian fatalities, three civilian injuries, and one firefighter injury, leaving entire neighborhoods unrecognizable. The Eaton Fire was even more destructive, damaging more than 1,000 structures and destroying over 9,400. That fire claimed 18 civilian lives, injured nine firefighters, and left communities facing long recovery timelines. Together, these fires illustrate the ongoing human, environmental, and economic toll of California’s wildfire crisis. What is even more crazy is that the estimated total property and capital losses are between $76 billion and $131 billion (insured losses estimated up to $45 billion)!
Who is fighting all of these fires?
Every wildfire season, California relies on a vast network of firefighters drawn from across the state and beyond. Local fire departments, CAL FIRE crews, and even federal teams are mobilized when flames spread quickly. In especially severe years, California also calls in help from neighboring states, the federal government, and even international partners like Canada and Mexico, whose crews have traveled south to provide reinforcements.
Within this patchwork response, one group stands out for its scale and history: the incarcerated firefighters of the Conservation Camp Program, jointly operated by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and CAL FIRE. Each year, about 3,500 people participate, often hiking into steep terrain and working long shifts in some of the most dangerous conditions. Their efforts provide critical capacity during peak fire activity and save the state hundreds of millions of dollars annually.
Incarcerated firefighters are compensated modestly for this work. They earn between $5.80 and $10.24 per day, depending on skill level, plus an additional $1 per hour when actively fighting a fire. Daily pay is provided by CDCR, while the emergency hourly rate comes from CAL FIRE.
Despite their contributions and the risks they take, most participants return home without the certifications or credentials needed to apply for professional firefighting jobs. The result is a paradox: individuals who have helped contain some of California’s largest and most destructive wildfires often struggle to translate that experience into a stable career. This gap set the stage for two key pieces of legislation (AB 2147 and AB 1380) designed to connect fire camp service with real opportunities after release.
Key California Bills for Incarcerated Firefighters
AB 2147: Expungement and Access to Firefighting Jobs
In 2020, lawmakers passed AB 2147, a landmark measure aimed at removing barriers for formerly incarcerated firefighters. The law allows individuals who served in fire camps to petition the courts to have their convictions dismissed once they complete their sentences. Importantly, this expungement process can open doors that were previously closed, particularly in public service careers where a criminal record would have automatically disqualified applicants.
AB 2147 was championed by Assemblywoman Eloise Gómez Reyes and signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom during 2020, one of the state’s most destructive wildfire years on record. Supporters argued that it was unjust to rely on incarcerated individuals to protect communities during active fires, only to deny them the opportunity to pursue professional firefighting once released.
While AB 2147 represented a critical first step, its impact was limited. The expungement process requires individuals to file petitions in court, which can be time-consuming, costly, and legally complex. Even for those who successfully cleared their records, expungement did not guarantee access to the certifications or formal hiring pathways required by CAL FIRE or local fire departments. As a result, many fire camp veterans still found themselves locked out of the very profession they had risked their lives to support.
These shortcomings paved the way for the introduction of two interesting bills from this year, designed to move beyond expungement and create a more direct, structured, and fair path from fire camp service to professional firefighting careers.
AB 247: Pay and Benefits for Incarcerated Firefighters
In 2025, lawmakers introduced AB 247, known as the Firefighting Freedom Bill, to address long-standing concerns about the wages and benefits provided to incarcerated firefighters. The measure was co-authored by Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas and Assemblymember Isaac Bryan (SB 581 and AB 247, respectively), who argued that while California relies heavily on fire camp labor, those performing the work are compensated at rates far below even minimum wage.
As previously mentioned, incarcerated firefighters earn between $5.80 and $10.24 per day, plus an additional $1 per hour while actively fighting fires. This legislation proposes to significantly increase pay, bringing wages closer to those of seasonal CAL FIRE employees. It would also extend access to a benefits package that includes workers’ compensation, retirement contributions, and health coverage during fire assignments—protections long sought by advocates who point out the risks of smoke inhalation, heat exposure, and physical injury in the field.
Supporters view AB 247 as a matter of equity and public safety, while critics raise concerns about costs and whether expanding pay could reduce program size. The bill passed the Legislature on September 11, 2025, but has yet to be signed into law.
AB 1380: Certification, Hiring, and Oversight
Introduced in 2025 and sponsored by Rep. Sade Elhawary, AB 1380, the Formerly Incarcerated Firefighter Certification and Employment Program, seeks to create a clearer pathway from fire camp service to professional firefighting careers. The bill outlines three major provisions:
- Certification Before Release: Individuals who complete CAL FIRE’s required firefighter training while incarcerated would receive official documentation recognizing their training as sufficient to apply for Fire Fighter 1 positions.
- Hiring Preference: Beginning in 2027, formerly incarcerated firefighters would receive a hiring preference in CAL FIRE’s applicant pool, helping them compete more effectively for seasonal or permanent roles.
- Reporting and Oversight: CAL FIRE and CDCR would track participation, hiring outcomes, and long-term results, with an annual report submitted to the Legislature for three years.
These provisions would only take effect if the Legislature allocates funding.
Advocates, including the Michelson Center for Public Policy, argue that the bill could improve reentry outcomes while also strengthening California’s firefighting workforce, and they point out there is bipartisan support here. The state loses hundreds of trained firefighters each year to retirement or attrition, and AB 1380 would help fill those gaps with experienced individuals who have already served on the front lines.
AB 1380 passed the Assembly with bipartisan support and moved through several Senate committees during the summer of 2025. Supporters frame it as both a workforce development measure and a recognition of the skills incarcerated firefighters have already demonstrated in the field. As of September 2025, however, the bill remains on the Senate Appropriations Committee’s suspense file, delaying further action.
Why It Matters
California’s wildfire challenges demand a steady pipeline of trained firefighters. Incarcerated individuals who serve in fire camps already provide critical support on the front lines, but for years their contributions ended at the prison gate. AB 2147 opened the first door by allowing these firefighters to clear certain convictions and pursue careers that would otherwise be off limits. AB 247 pushed the conversation forward by tackling wages and benefits, recognizing that fair pay and protections are part of valuing their labor. AB 1380 builds on both efforts, proposing a system of certification, hiring preference, and oversight that could create a direct bridge from fire camp to career.
Taken together, these measures mark a broader shift in how California views rehabilitation, workforce development, and wildfire preparedness. Supporters argue that linking fire camp service to real job opportunities strengthens communities, reduces recidivism, and helps fill the growing need for firefighters as wildfire seasons become longer and more severe. Critics continue to raise questions about costs, fairness in hiring, and whether CAL FIRE can absorb a larger applicant pool.
Regardless of the legislative outcomes, the debate underscores an important reality: California’s wildfire response depends on thousands of trained personnel, and recognizing the skills of incarcerated firefighters is no longer just a question of justice, it’s also a question of public safety and resilience.
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