Video by Alexandra Powell and Ike Dodson
Office of Public and Employee Communications
Music: https://www.bensound.com
Meet Anthony Pedro.
When he went to prison for second-degree robbery, his daughter was only 3 years old. Now she’s almost taller than he is.
He’s changed too.
While incarcerated, Pedro worked as an inmate firefighter at the California Correctional Center (CCC) Fire Department. Pedro, now out of prison, works as a firefighter at the Pioneer Fire Protection District in Somerset.
“The tools that I learned at the California Correctional Center Fire Department is what brought me to where I’m at now and made me the firefighter I am today,” he said.
The CCC Fire Department is one of 27 CDCR institution firehouses statewide. Institution firefighters serve as the prison’s onsite fire suppression and prevention service.
CCC’s Fire Department is responsible for providing fire and medical response to all areas of CCC and High Desert State Prison in Susanville.
While Pedro was waiting to parole, he knew he wanted to pursue a career in firefighting. He wanted to return home and become a role model for his daughter.
Mission accomplished.
“I could sit here and tell you everything about his personality, but being a team player, and walking in and being non-selfish, that’s very positive,” Pioneer Fire Chief Mark Andrews said. “He has infiltrated this organization and become part of a good team.”
Pedro’s daughter is still growing, much like his firefighting calling.
“Now that I’m out with this career, I can provide her a good life now,” Pedro explained. “And there’s positions opening up here soon, where I can promote to engineer, or captain.
“I told my chief I want to take his spot one day.”
Watch the YouTube video. (May not play on a CDCR computer.)
TRANSCRIPT
Anthony Pedro
My name is Anthony Pedro. I’m a firefighter here at the Pioneer Fire Protection District, Somerset, California.
I served eight and a half years in the California state prison system. I’m out now – been out six months.
The tools that I learned at the California Correctional Center Fire Department is what brought me to where I’m at now and made me the firefighter I am today.
You know, we’re always ready. You know, even if it is 3 in the morning. As soon as the alarm goes off, we don’t know what we’re going into. It could be anything.
Whatever we’re doing everything stops and we just go. We’ve got to be out of here within about a two-minute time frame, in the rig – gone.
There’s that golden hour in which we’ve got to either save, rescue, suppress the fire. It’s crucial because as that time goes, things worsen.
Mark Matthews
I could sit here and tell you everything about his personality. But being a team player, and walking in and being non-selfish, that’s very positive.
He has infiltrated this organization and become part of a good team.
Pedro
It was March 2010 when I made that mistake. I always prayed for the victims. I pray for them now still. I felt so bad for them and their families. And my family too that I put through a lot of hard times, you know … my daughter. (sobs)
But now that I’m out with this career, I can provide her a good life now. When I left, she was just 3 years old. Now she’s almost taller than me.
Now, being able to do this and perform at the best I can, and just do my best for them, now look where I am.
And there’s positions opening up here soon, where I can promote to engineer, or captain. I told my chief I want to take his spot one day. (chuckles)