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Ishi Conservation Camp #18

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Camp Details

Contact Info

  • 30500 Plum Creek Road, Paynes Creek, CA 96075
  • (530) 597-2846

CDCR Camp Staff

  • Lt. M. Gregor, Camp Commander
  • Sgt. C. Hoagland, Assistant Camp Commander

2021 Camp Statistics

  • CDCR Staff: 9
  • Total number of inmates: 45
  • Total inmate capacity: 100

Camp Products

Ready “2” Heat Meals are specifically designed for consumption by firefighting personnel. Ishi Camp is an approved product provider for Emergency Ready “2” Heat Meals and their sales are limited to state and local government agencies.

Community Service Projects

  • Bureau of Land Management
  • Fish & Game
  • Cal Trans
  • Tehama County Resource Conservation District
  • Tehama County Fairgrounds
  • Red Bluff Schools
  • CAL FIRE Facilities
  • Tehama County Schools
  • United States Forest Service
  • Lassen Volcanic National Park
  • Red Bluff City Parks & Recreation
  • Adopt-A-Highway
  • State Parks
  • Butte County Snow Removal
  • Tehama County Public Works
  • Shasta County Schools

These projects consisted of brushing roads and trails, fuel breaks, fence installation & removal, construction projects, trash and litter pickup, building maintenance and clean up, clearing ditches, flood prevention, tree removal, weed abatement, and snow removal.

Victims of Crime Hobby Craft Program: Ishi Camp inmates volunteer their time and hobby craft materials to create beautiful wood crafted items for sale at the Annual Hobby Craft Sale. Proceeds are used to benefit victims of crime. Each year at Christmas time, Ishi Camp provides bicycles for foster children in Tehama County in cooperation with Tehama County Social Services.

Camp History

Ishi Conservation Camp (#18) was opened in April 1961. The camp is jointly operated by CDCR and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE). The camp’s primary mission is to provide incarcerated fire crews for fire suppression activities in the Tehama, Glenn, Shasta and Plumas County areas. In addition to fire suppression, incarcerated hand crews provide a work force for conservation and community services projects in the local area. The designated in-camp project is CDF Boxed Meal Shop, which produces boxed ready to eat meals for firefighters and are distributed throughout the State.

Inmate Programs

College courses are available to all inmates through Coastline College and Feather River College. NA/AA programs are provided by local volunteer groups. Religious programs and bible study programs are provided by local volunteers. Education and GED Testing are also available.