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Prado Conservation Camp #28

Prado Conservation Camp #28 logo

Camp Details

Contact Info

  • 14467 Central Ave., Chino, CA 91710
  • CDCR Phone: (909) 597-3917
  • CAL FIRE Phone: (909) 597-2911

CDCR Camp Staff

  • Lt. Espinoza, Camp Commander
  • Sgt. (A) T. Collins, Assistant Camp Commander

2021 Camp Statistics

  • CDCR Staff: 9
  • Total number of inmates: 60
  • Total inmate capacity: 80

Camp History

Prado Conservation Camp opened on October 1, 1963 and is located in San Bernardino County just two miles south of Chino on Central Avenue. CDCR and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) jointly operate the Camp. Prado Conservation Camp is under the CDCR Administrative Supervision of Sierra Conservation Center (SCC). CAL FIRE management direction is provided by the San Bernardino Unit.

The primary mission of the camp is to provide incarcerated fire crews for fire suppression principally in San Bernardino County. The camp is centrally located for immediate response to five different counties, but crews may respond anywhere in the state. In addition to fire suppression, incarcerated hand crews provide a work force for conservation projects. The primary project work of the camp is fire defense improvements, general weed abatement, and public recreation area beautification on tax-supported government properties in the local area.

Inmate Programs

Inmates perform various in-camp projects that include maintenance, welding, equipment repair, and carpentry. While serving their prison term, inmates learn valuable experience and work skills. The training the inmates receive at Prado Conservation Camp is not only that of hard work and strong work ethic, but teamwork, self-esteem, and the recognition of a job well done. In addition, eligible Prado inmates participate in a G.E.D. / College program in conjunction with the California Institution for Men in Chino. The experiences on the fire line and on their work projects are life skills that will continue to follow the Prado inmates once they are released and return back to their communities.

Prado Conservation Camp has a designed capacity for 80 male minimum custody inmates. The camp has four incarcerated fire crews. In addition to the incarcerated fire crews, Prado Conservation Camp has a Mobile Fire Kitchen Unit (MKU). This MKU may be dispatched to feed in excess of 2,500 fire line meals to feed fire fighters anywhere in the State. Prado Camp also serves as a mobilization center for fires in Southern California. During this operation the Camp may hold as many as 1800 inmates and fire fighters from all over the State, waiting to respond to fires as they are dispatched by CAL Fire.

Community Projects

Prado Conservation Camp incarcerated hand crews provide tens of thousands hours of fire suppression activities throughout the state of California. When not fighting fires, inmates work on conservation projects and other community services in the local area. Some examples of community-based projects that have been conducted by the inmates at Prado Conservation Camp include:

  • Making fire protection signs for the Forestry Department.
  • Tree farm for replanting in the forest.
  • Restoration of historical vehicles: fire trucks and apparatus.
  • Restoration of historical landmarks, such as Yucaipa Fire House.

Community Projects in Detail

  • Corona Ponds: Removal of non-native species from ponds. Removal of Arundo & other non-native species in the surrounding area.
  • Southern Region Head Quarters: General maintenance & fire hazard reduction.
  • San Bernardino Unit Head Quarter: General fire hazard reduction as well as general maintenance of Ranger Unit Facility and Stations.
  • Yucaipa: General maintenance around fire station, and various jobs to include but not limited to small construction, weed abatement, perimeter clean-up, and fuels reduction.
  • California Institute Men’s Gun Range: Ground maintenance, trash pick up, fire threat reduction, and building target frames.
  • US Forest Service Warehouse / Fire Cache: Landscape maintenance, warehouse work, and fire tool maintenance.
  • Chino Hills: General maintenance around park, and various jobs to include but not limited to small construction, weed abatement, perimeter clean-up, fuels reduction, and trail maintenance.
  • San Bernardino Floods: Provide Clearing and chipping of dead brush in flood channels throughout San Bernardino County.
  • Corona Parks and Recreation: Provide Clearing and chipping of dead brush, also vegetation removal and transport to trash bins. This project will reduce the dead fuel loading in areas with close proximity to residences with hopes to minimize the fire potential in the area.
  • Corona Airport: Cut and remove trees and saplings in the Runway Protection Zone (RPZ), south ditch area, south & north flood walls. Also clear limbs and bushes.
  • Carbon Canyon: Mosaic fuels treatment including brush and dead tree removal and limbing of ladder fuels in green tree areas. Also to include chipping of cut materials.
  • Chino Hills State Park: Fuel break maintenance, vegetation management, trail maintenance and repair, tree felling/trimming & road/drainage repair at creek crossings and drainage aprons; using various methods such as the use of hand tools, chainsaws and other mechanized equipment.
  • Stark Clean-Up, CDCR: The transition of the facility from DJJ to DAI has resulted in the need to clean up the facility. The work is requested in the shops, classrooms, and out building areas. The crew(s) is needed to collect and remove trash and debris as well as the collection and staging of the remaining assets (furniture, tools, equipment, etc.) for review, inventory, and palletizing for transfer to other facilities. Some of the areas behind the buildings in these sectors may need weed abated. This work in needed to remove trash that will attract rodents and loose articles that would increase the risk for fire. There are also tools that need to be collected and secured as they present a security risk.
  • Devore: General maintenance around fire station during winter months when station is not in use. Various jobs to include but not limited to small construction, weed abatement, perimeter clean-up, and fuels reduction.
  • Doheny State Beach / Park: General hazard reduction and maintenance at various State Park locations.
  • San Clemente State Beach / Park: General hazard reduction and maintenance at various State Park locations.
  • San Onofre State Beach / Park: General hazard reduction and maintenance at miscellaneous State park locations.
  • CDCR Facility Maintenance (Stark, Norwalk, Nellis): Grounds & vegetation maintenance, light repairs, general clean-up.
  • ANF FUELS: Hazard fuels reduction at Tanbark Research Facility, maintenance of fuel break, and hazard reduction at several camp grounds.