Western fires outpace California effort to fill inmate crews
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- As wildfires rage across California each year, exhausted firefighters call for reinforcements from wherever they can get them
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SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- As wildfires rage across California each year, exhausted firefighters call for reinforcements from wherever they can get them
California has a first-in-the nation law and a $30 million training program both aimed at trying to help former inmate firefighters turn pro after they are released from prison.
It's been a learning curve to educate judges about the law and get the corrections department to speed up certifying to the court that inmates have served as firefighters.
The town of Susanville — where local officials say they face economic devastation if they lose more than 1,000 prison jobs — sued the state last year.
For formerly incarcerated people seeking firefighting jobs in the private sector, they can get help from the Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program.