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Gabilan Conservation Camp #38

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Camp Details

Contact Info

  • 31801 McCoy Rd,
  • Soledad, California 93960

CDCR Camp Staff

  • Lt. Nilsson, Camp Commander
  • Sgt. Schwartz and Sgt. George, Assistant Camp Commanders

2021 Camp Statistics

  • CDCR Staff: 11
  • Total number of inmates: 54
  • Total inmate capacity: 120

Community Service Projects

line of calfire fire trucks
  • City of Monterey: Greenbelt fire fuel reduction and habitat restoration through the removal of invasive non-native plant species, removal of dead plants and the falling of dead trees. Reforestation with native plants and trees; erosion control and greenbelt maintenance.
  • Marina Dunes: planting of indigenous flowers, abatement of weeds, and falling of dead trees.
  • State Parks: Falling of dead trees, restoring historical sites, building bridges, clearing hiking trails and taking down bridges during winter  months.
  • City of Carmel: Flood control and clearing non-indigenous vegetation from waterways.
  • City of Del Rey Oaks: Clean and chip willows form intersections and waterways.
  • Hollister Hills State Vehicle Recreation Area (SVRA): Clear vegetation from over 6.800 acres which includes nearly 200 miles of off-highway vehicle (OHV) trails. This is accomplished through the removal or reduction of overgrown vegetation by prescribed burns, thinning trees and pruning/chipping of bushes and shrubs.

Camp History

inmate firefighters

Gabilan Camp opened January 6, 1986, and has been responding to emergency incidents such as fires, floods, hazardous material spills, and earthquakes throughout the state for 36 years. The camp’s primary mission is to provide incarcerated fire crews for fire suppression activities in the Monterey, San Benito, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz Counties however, the crews could be dispatched anywhere within the state. When not responding to emergencies, the crews provide a work force for conservation and community service projects throughout Monterey and San Benito Counties. In addition to fire suppression,Gabilan has a Mobile Kitchen Unit (MKU) which are used to support feeding operations at emergency incidents. The kitchens prepare hot meals for those providing the emergency response.

Inmate Programs

  • Wildland Fire Chainsaw classes (S-212)
  • Forklift operator classes
  • Alcoholic Anonymous (AA)
  • Narcotic Anonymous (NA)
  • Recruitment of incarcerated firefighters to the Ventura Training Center (VTC)
  • Recruitment of incarcerated firefighters by CAL FIRE and US Forest Service