Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program Graduates 45 Formerly Incarcerated Trainees, Now Ready to Fight Wildfires

Nonprofit Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program said it would graduate 45 newly-trained wildland hazard mitigation specialists and wildland firefighters on Saturday in Altadena.

The Program is a nonprofit organization that trains and provides employment opportunities to formerly incarcerated individuals interested in careers in wildland firefighting. The program was founded in 2019 in response to the growing need for wildland firefighters in California.

It describes its training program as “rigorous”  and covering a wide range of topics, including wildland fire suppression, hazardous materials handling, and emergency medical services. 

Upon completion of the program, graduates are eligible to apply for full-time positions with fire agencies across California, according to a press statement.

The Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program’s fourth graduating class is made up of individuals from diverse backgrounds and with a variety of experience levels. Some of the graduates have prior experience in the military, while others are first-time firefighters. 

The Program’s administrators said its “graduates are proof that with hard work and determination, it is possible to overcome barriers and achieve success.”

The Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program said its mission addresses three serious challenges facing California: criminal justice reform, workforce training, and climate change.

The Program offers advanced wildland firefighting training to formerly incarcerated individuals, who often face career roadblocks due to their criminal records. The program also works hand-in-hand with fire agencies to fill employment shortfalls with trained FFRP graduates. In addition, the Program helps California combat one of its most serious challenges—and literally life-threatening—challenges being exacerbated by climate change: wildfires.

As of 2022, according to the Program, there were more than 1,600 incarcerated people who received training while in prison and were fighting fires to protect California’s wildlands, filling critical employment gaps for regional fire agencies. And yet, upon leaving the criminal justice system, many of these same individuals are confronted with career roadblocks and unable to secure positions due to their conviction record.

The FFRP said it is committed to providing opportunities for formerly incarcerated individuals to rebuild their lives and contribute to their communities. 

The graduation is scheduled to be conducted in the Farnsworth Park Amphitheater, at 576-898 Mount Curve Ave. E, Altadena, CA 91001. More details can be found here via Paperless Post.