Trinity River Conservation Camp #3
Trinity River Conservation Camp #3 is jointly operated by CDCR and the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE). The primary mission of the camp is to provide incarcerated fire crews for fire suppression, principally in the Trinity, Shasta, and Siskiyou County areas. Camp hand crews also provide a work force for floods, conservation projects, and community services for local, state, and federal government agencies.
Contact Information
Address
3325 Pettijohn Road, Lewiston, CA 96052
Phones
- CDCR: (530) 286-2886
- CAL FIRE: (530) 286-2880
CDCR Camp Staff
- Lt. Oberst, Camp Commander
- Sgt. A. Hays, Assistant Camp Commander
About Trinity River Conservation Camp #3
Trinity River Conservation Camp #3 opened May 1988. CDCR is responsible for the security, supervision, care, and discipline of the incarcerated camp participants. CAL FIRE maintains the camp, supervises work of the incarcerated fire crews and is responsible for their custody while assigned to daily CAL FIRE work projects. CDCR staff may accompany the hand crews while assigned to emergencies to assist in their care and security.
Participants volunteer for the Conservation Camp Program. No one is involuntarily assigned to a conservation camp.
During each calendar year, Trinity River Conservation Camp, through conservation and work projects, provides the tens of thousands of hours of work force for Local, State and Federal government agencies. In addition to project and conservation work, the incarcerated fire crews provide several thousand hours in firefighting and other emergency work.
Trinity River’s in-camp projects include a saw mill, and a mill and cabinet shop where the crews build and repair office furniture, construct wood signs, and fabricate picnic benches for tax-supported government agencies.
Additionally, Trinity River Conservation Camp has a Mobile Kitchen Unit (MKU) which provides feeding for thousands of firefighters during emergency assignments on fires, flood control, and natural disasters.
Trinity River Conservation Camp also has a sewing and upholstery workshop and a welding area.
Programs and Services
Just as in every CDCR prison, every conservation camp offers rehabilitative and educational services, including substance abuse programs such as Alcoholics or Narcotics Anonymous (AA/NA), religious programs, and GED and correspondence college courses. Trinity River also has a hobby craft program and pre-release programs.
For stories featuring current and former Conservation (Fire) Camp Program participants, read Inside CDCR.
Visiting can be a critical part of an incarcerated person’s rehabilitation. For more information, visit the Scheduling Visits at Conservation (Fire) Camps page.