Three Ventura Training Center (VTC) cadets who graduated from the program in December reflect on their time battling the deadly fires in Los Angeles (LA) County.
One year ago, on Jan. 7, 2025, the Palisades Fire was ignited, followed by 14 destructive wildfires in the Los Angeles and San Diego areas throughout the month of January.
In total, more than 40,000 acres burned, destroying thousands of homes and businesses, resulting in at least 27 deaths.
Various state and county departments worked together to provide support and services to the affected communities, and one of those included the VTC.
Meet three graduates who fought the LA fires
Samuel Rodriguez, Troy Beatty, and Curtis Drake are three graduates who deployed to the Los Angeles County fire while participating in the VTC program.
“I was at the Kenneth Fire and the Palisades Fire,” said graduate Samuel Rodriguez. “It was one of the most intense firefights I have seen up to this day.”
Putting their lives on the line to help people they have never met.
“We were fighting mountains that were engulfed, we were able to save a whole community in Mandeville Canyon,” said Rodriguez. “It felt good being able to put all our training to work and save communities.”
Watch the video (story continues below):
Fighting the Palisades Fire
Graduate Troy Beatty was deployed to the Palisades Fire.
“You knew you were getting sent over to something big, and something high profile,” Beatty said. “It was awesome to know that we were actually going to be able to help.”
The men not only helped put out the flames but also worked to prevent them from spreading.
“I was on a chainsaw, and we did almost a mile of cutting one night while the flames were still active. Man, I was exhausted and cramping up,” said Beatty. “We cut from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m. It was all steep terrain, flames were coming down, helicopters were dropping on you. It felt like we were in battle.”
With the true reward being the response for those who lived nearby.
“You get a little emotional,” he said. “Some elementary schools sent us letters from the kids saying thank you. It really does make you feel good knowing you are doing something to make a difference.”
Graduate Curtis Drake also helped fight the Palisades Fire.
“A lot of the devastation was at that fire,” Drake recalled.” You ride in along the (Pacific Coast Highway) and see multi-million-dollar structures just destroyed like a bomb went off.”
Drake says it takes a toll on you, but you must set your emotions aside.
“Still thinking of it, it is sad a lot of the devastation that it caused,” said Drake. “We were just happy to see all the gratitude (shown) towards us. But, at the end of the day we have a job to do.”
>> Learn more about CDCR’s fire response during the month of January 2025.
What is the VTC?
The VTC was established in October 2018 by CDCR, CAL FIRE, and CCC in partnership with the Anti-Recidivism Coalition. It offers advanced training to parolees who participated at CDCR fire camps or institutional firehouses.
>> Read more about the recent graduation.
Story and video by Ashton Harris, information officer
Office of Public and Employee Communications
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