Firefighters and Camps, Inside CDCR Video, Rehabilitation

Laguna Seca Raceway gets Gabilan work

June 3, 2025

Gabilan Conservation Camp fire crews recently rolled up their sleeves to do fire prevention work at Laguna Seca Raceway.

This is one of many fuel-reduction projects conservation camps undertake to improve fire safety in the community, protecting homes, businesses, and infrastructure.

After a hearty breakfast at Gabilan camp, the crew got to work.

“This is what we call a grade project,” said camp commander Lt. Nilsson. “Our camp has probably 100 to 120 sponsors that we work for. We can work for local city, state, (and) county governments. We can (also) work for nonprofits, homeowners’ associations (and) things of that nature.”

At the raceway, the crews weed-whacked, raked, and cleared weeds and brush.

“(Working on) one of the turns, limiting the fire dangers by anything happening on the racetrack that could spread to the fans,” he said. “One hundred percent of my population is getting out. When I talk to the guy, when they first show up, I basically tell (them to) consider your lives on pause right now and it’s up to you to move forward towards the end goal of whatever you want to do with your families.”

Nilsson said people at camp learn job skills ranging from wildland firefighting to landscaping.

“At the fire camp, you see guys coming in who maybe never worked a piece of machinery before, don’t know how to start a lawnmower (or) a trimmer. And next (thing) you know, here they are operating chainsaws safely (and) proficiently,” he said. “And even if they don’t go into the firefighting business, we have guys (who) call after (release) and (say they) now own my (their own) landscaping business.”

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Rehabilitation through the camp program

Philip Popick, and incarcerated firefighter, said he enjoys working at the camp.

“You get a lot of appreciation and a lot of gratitude from people around the communities,” he said. “So that always feels good because they seem to be genuinely appreciative of all the work that we do. We’re also appreciative of the opportunity to go to these beautiful areas like Laguna Seca.”

Popick and the rest of the crew are enjoying their time outside and giving back to the community.

“You know, (the raceway is) a pretty cool place. It’s kind of famous. So, it’s cool to be out here, see the cars going around,” he said. “We’ve all become very close (at the camp). Kind of like a family.”

The camp program is true example of rehabilitation, according to Nilsson.

“(It’s) a great program,” he explained. “It gets the guys out of their cells (and) gets them a task at hand to do. It’s teaching them responsibility, teamwork (and) brotherhood. (For) a lot of the guys, we’re almost like their first real boss.”

Learn more about conservation camps and fire response.

Video by Bernadette Durley, TV Specialist
Office of Public and Employee Communications