FAQs

WHAT IS A "CONSERVATION CAMP"?
A conservation camp is a facility jointly run by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF) that houses low risk inmate crews that are trained to fight fires, floods and other emergencies.
There are 37 CDCR/CDF conservation camps in California that provide a ready workforce of nearly 4,000 inmate firefighters. CDCR and CDF have operated conservation camps together for 60 years.

ARE THE INMATES DANGEROUS? They are "low end" minimum custody inmates. The program automatically excludes inmates who are kidnappers or child molesters. Those inmates with any arson on their record are also automatically disqualified. The majority of the inmates are service time for drug-related and property crimes.
Throughout their stay at a conservation camp, inmate firefighters are constantly evaluated by CDCR and CDF staff. Any infractions that indicate an inmate firefighter is no longer suitable for the program immediately lead to their expulsion.

WHAT KIND OF SUPERVISION WILL THE INMATES HAVE? A conservation camp has its own law enforcement unit comprised of CDCR correctional officers who supervise the inmates around the clock while they are "in camp." When the crews are on emergencies or work projects, the inmates are supervised by CDF Fire Captains.

HOW LONG ARE THE INMATE FIREFIGHTERS ASSIGNED TO A CONSERVATION CAMP?
The average time an inmate firefighter spends in a conservation camp is approximately 8 months. But some inmates have served up to 5 years in the conservation camp program.

WHERE DO THE INMATE FIREFIGHTERS GO WHEN THEY ARE DONE SERVING THEIR SENTENCES?
The inmates are paroled back to their county of commitment and should not be released in Malibu.

WHAT WILL THE INMATE FIREFIGHTERS DO WHEN THEY ARE NOT FIGHTING FIRES OR OTHER EMERGENCIES?
The crews work on public projects such as brush clearing, maintenance and clearn up for a variety of federal, state and local agencies. After work hours inmates can participate in programs such as "Alcoholics Anonymous" and "Narcotics Anonymous" which are held on site at the campus. The inmate firefighters also spend time on hobbies such as wood working. Bible study groups are also commonplace as are on-site libraries.

HOW ARE THE INMATE FIREFIGHTERS TRAINED?
Once the inmates are classified as being suitable for the camp program, CDCR puts them through rigorous fitness training. Once they complete the fitness training, CDF provides fire specific training. If the inmates pass this training, they are assigned to a fire crew at a conservation camp and continue to receive safety and other types of training for the duration of their assignment.

HOW MANY CREWS WILL BE AT THE CAMP?
Right now this number is unclear. Local sources say 80, however camp 16 housed 110 inmates. Given similar numbers at other camps, this number provides for enough personnel to staff five 17-crews. Additional inmate firefighters are assigned to the camp as cooks, mechanics and in camp maintenance workers. On day-to-day work projects like emergencies, CDF fire captains supervise the 17 person fire crews.

ARE THE INMATES FREE TO COME & GO AS THEY PLEASE?
Absolutely not.

HOW MANY ESCAPES OCCUR EACH YEAR?
The average number of escapes from conservation camps is 7 per year statewide. The re-arrest is 99.1%

WHERE DID YOU GET ALL OF THESE FACTS?
See Here