The Research Project

This research effort was facilitated via Wonder Lab's Living with Fire Design Challenge in which community partner's and researchers are paired to conduct investigation of self-appointed topics. 

Research Hypotheses

• Formerly incarcerated firefighters report a range of obstacles to working as firefighters after release.

• Key hiring officials recognize the need for this specialized labor pool, but face barriers and lack adequate communication channels to onboard justice-involved individuals wishing to engage in firefighting work. 

Key Findings

Professional Certifications

• • Certificates are the most important component for entering into the wildland firefighting profession (n=13)  

  • Formerly incarcerated firefighters must repeat certificate coursework upon release at personal expense (n = 9)

  • Formerly incarcerated individuals are unable to obtain Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certificates, a key certification for state and municipal fire positions (n=5) 

Stigma

• • Justice Impacted Individuals weigh disclosure of criminal records on their job applications over concerns of being discriminated against (n=7) 

Fire Camp Captain Relationships

Fire Camp Captains are a critical link in the fire camp to professional transition and they operate out of good will, rather than institutional support

• • Incarcerated firefighters interested in professional wildland firefighting talk with fire captains as initial point of contact (n=9) 

  • Fire Captains take it upon themselves to offer guidance, without institutional support (n=5) 

AB2147

AB2147’s impact, while well intentioned, constitutes a complicated expungement process that may have limited effect on reducing barriers to wildland fire careers

CDCR Realignment

CDCR’s Realignment is altering the Fire Camp Program and therefore CAL FIRE’s composition of it’s fire crews