Fighting Fire as a Second Chance

For incarcerated individuals, work is a significant part of their sentence. Currently, there are roughly 90,600 incarcerated individuals in California, and “...nearly 70% of incarcerated individuals are assigned to work…,” according to Scholars Strategy Network. Jobs such as food service, maintenance, and administrative support keep these individuals occupied. After being released, though, many of these individuals struggle to find a stable job. Early this year, a new bill was proposed to ameliorate one career path after release—firefighting.

Last year, California experienced devastating wildfires, including the Gifford, Palisades, and Eaton fires. Unfortunately, these catastrophes happen annually, so the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) was established in 1885 to address them. CAL FIRE is prolific at addressing these situations for many reasons, including its manpower. With tens of thousands of permanent firefighters, CAL FIRE’s workers are constantly prepared and supported by one another. Beyond the numbers, though, many other people support CAL FIRE. While it may seem surprising, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation claims that last year about  “45.5% of total emergency response hours " were contributed by incarcerated hand crews. That percentage is high, showing these firefighters' contribution to California.

Sadly, after these individuals deviate from their sentence, many of them are unable to continue supporting CAL FIRE. Even with discernible experience, they face rejection; however, AB 2483 seeks to change this. As stated in an article by Sarit Laschinsky and Vicki Gonzalez, “If passed, California would create a pathway to provide an official certification for those that receive firefighter training while incarcerated,” which would be a massive success for formally incarcerated firefighters. It would not only increase their stability, but it would also support CAL FIRE’s resources and strategy.

AB 2483 raises many qualms for California residents and government officials. Trusting formally incarcerated people is difficult sometimes, so why should citizens desire a team of them to protect their livelihood? The obvious answer is latent; however, the positives seem rather persuasive.

Wildfires are unexpected, destructive, and different compared to normal firefighting events. As a result, having enough firefighters to limit their impact is crucial. So, should formal incarceration dictate whether someone can assist?  A similar bill failed last year, and with voting around the corner, decisions have to be made. Ultimately, AB 2483 could revolutionize many individuals' post-incarceration experience, promising a better, improved future.