CDCR operates 23 all-hazards firehouses at institutions across California. Two of the firehouses, the California Institution for Women and the Central California Women’s Facility, are for incarcerated women. Under the direction of the institution’s Warden, each firehouse is managed by a Correctional Facility Fire Chief who commands several Correctional Facility Fire Captains and incarcerated Firefighters.  

The mission of CDCR FIRE is to protect and safeguard CDCR infrastructure, staff, incarcerated population, and local communities. CDCR FIRE responds to emergency calls and mutual aid requests for residential and structural fires, wildland and vegetation fires, vehicle accidents, medical aids, and hazardous materials. When not responding to an emergency call, participants and staff complete training, engage in physical fitness maintenance, and correctional property inspections.    

Paid participants in CDCR’s Incarcerated Firefighter Rehabilitation Program (IFRP) support state, local and federal government agencies as they respond to all types of emergencies such as wildland fires, structure fires, vehicle fires and accidents, hazardous materials, confined space, medical aids, floods, and other natural disasters. When not assigned to an emergency, incarcerated firefighters complete community service projects in areas close to their firehouse.  

Participants can also work as firehouse support and maintenance staff including cooks, landscapers, laundry workers, clerical support, and custodians. 

The program paves the way for job opportunities and benefits after release, including advanced training and criminal record expungement. These pathways allow formerly incarcerated individuals to seek professional emergency response certifications that were not previously available to them. 

For more information about advanced training, visit the Ventura Training Center (VTC) webpage. 

For more information about expedited criminal record expungement, visit the Assembly Bill 2147 webpage 

The correctional Fire Chief and Fire Captains oversee firehouse operations, which are minimum-security facilities. When responding to an emergency call, whether on institution grounds or in the community, correctional fire staff supervise the participants, which can include up to three incarcerated firefighters. 

CDCR correctional fire staff assign community outreach projects for the incarcerated firefighters. Prior to the start of a project, CDCR FIRE staff members evaluate the project site to ensure there are no security issues.  

CDCR FIRE believes maintaining relationships and communication with loved ones is an integral part of the rehabilitative process. For more information on how to schedule a visit with an incarcerated firefighter, visit the CDCR Visitation Updates and Information  page.  

No.  Incarcerated people volunteer for the program. 

CDCR health care staff must clear participants as physically and mentally fit for vigorous activity to participate in the program. 

Participants must have “minimum custody” status, or the lowest-security classification based on their sustained good behavior in prison, ability to follow rules, and participation in rehabilitative programming. In addition, they must have eight years or less remaining on their sentence to be considered. 

Some convictions automatically make someone ineligible for firehouse assignment, even if they have minimum custody status. Disqualifying convictions include rape and other sex offenses, arson, and escape history. Other disqualifiers include active warrants, medical issues, and high-notoriety cases.  

California Correctional Health Care Service (CCHCS) nursing staff must clear a participant for medical and mental health concerns before they can volunteer for the program. They must also complete a physical fitness test. 

Once volunteers pass the physical fitness test, they are then placed in a Firefighter Trainee position at a CDCR firehouse. The training includes 650 hours of Firefighter 1 level training, Hazmat First Responder Operations and Decontamination, Public Safety-First Aid (PSFA), and Confined Space Awareness.  

After completing the CDCR FIRE Incarcerated Firefighter Training Program (IFTP), participants become firefighters. During training, participants earn formal certifications in PSFA, which includes American Red Cross certification in CPR and AED use for adults, children, and infants. 

Many firehouses have partnerships with local community colleges to provide additional supplemental coursework in fire science and Emergency Medical Services (EMS). Participants can earn a certificate that transfers into credits at a two or four-year college after release to continue their education.  

Participants also earn CDCR FIRE certifications in areas such as Hazardous Materials, Confined Space Rescue Awareness, Firefighter 1 curriculum and skills, and National Wildland Coordination Group (NWCG) S-130 Wildland Firefighter. These certifications are recognized by most outside entities.   

All CDCR FIRE personnel, including incarcerated firefighters, undergo training on all-hazard emergency response. That includes methods to prevent, recognize and respond to symptoms of heat-related illnesses. Training, physical fitness conditioning, and education, including proper hydration and nutrition, are ongoing. Heat-related injury or illness suffered by any incarcerated person is recorded and treated seriously. These cases are investigated internally and shared with Cal OSHA to determine if proper mitigations were in place. 

Avoiding heat illness is a partnership between the firefighter and CDCR FIRE—each must do their part year-round to ensure that they are preparing for the upcoming fire season.  CDCR FIRE provides incarcerated firefighters the training, supervision and knowledge to avoid heat illness, as well as being a fit and safe firefighter. 

Part of CDCR FIRE’s classroom instruction for firefighter training includes formal certification in Public Safety-First Aid.  

During training, incarcerated firefighters completing the Incarcerated Firefighter Training Program (IFTP) earn $0.30 per hour. Upon completing IFTP, participants earn $0.60 per hour as incarcerated firefighters. An evaluation may be completed every 90 days by a supervisor, adjusting pay until it reaches $0.85 per hour. 

CDCR FIRE participants earn time credits. Most program volunteers receive 2-for-1 credits, meaning they receive two additional days off their sentence for every one day they serve in CDCR FIRE.  

For more information on credit-earning, visit the Proposition 57 webpage.

The CDCR FIRE Incarcerated Firefighter Training Program can be an important part of an incarcerated person’s rehabilitation as they serve their sentences with CDCR. Just as in every CDCR prison, every firehouse offers rehabilitative and educational services, including substance abuse programs, religious programs, and GED courses.   

Yes. A felony conviction does not disqualify employment with CAL FIRE. Many former firefighters go on to gain employment with CAL FIRE, the United States Forest Service and interagency hotshot crews. 

CAL FIRE, California Conservation Corps (CCC), and CDCR, in partnership with the Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC), developed an 18-month enhanced firefighter training and certification program at the Ventura Training Center (VTC), located in Ventura County. 

The VTC trains formerly incarcerated people on parole who have recently been part of a trained firefighting workforce housed in fire camps or institutional firehouses operated by CAL FIRE or CDCR FIRE. Members of the CCC are also eligible to participate. VTC cadets receive additional rehabilitation and job training skills to help them be more successful after completion of the program. Cadets who complete the program are qualified to apply for entry-level firefighting jobs with local, state, and federal firefighting agencies. 

For more information, visit the Ventura Training Center (VTC) webpage.