Lawrence Walker, a CAL FIRE firefighter, got his start as an incarcerated crew member at Sierra Conservation Center in Jamestown.
“There is still an incarcerated firefighter rehabilitation program associated with the firehouse,” explained Jesse Corrales, fire chief with CDCR’s Office of Correctional Safety.
When Walker was incarcerated, Corrales was a captain at the firehouse.
“I got great training there and was around a lot of motivated individuals,” Walker said.
Watch the video (story continues below):
Walker then went on to the Mt. Bullion Conservation Camp as part of the hand crew, where he got some experience there as well.
Later, he was recommended to attend the Ventura Training Center where he earned certification as a firefighter.
“That leads to an interview with CAL FIRE as an entry level seasonal firefighter,” Corrales explained. “And that’s where they start their careers.”
While deployed to the devastating Southern California wildfires, Walker reconnected with Corrales.
“(It was a) very emotional experience seeing him, just seeing him on the other side now,” Walker said. “Being able to hold my head up high and just show him all the hard work and effort other people put into the program (is) paying off. It’s evidence that it works.”
Learn more about the conservation camp program.
Video by Richard Tan, TV specialist
Story by Don Chaddock, Inside CDCR editor
Office of Public and Employee Communications
additional video by Dwayne Stearns, TV specialist, Sierra Conservation Center
Learn more about firefighters and CDCR/CAL FIRE camps.
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