Serving time by fighting wildfires in California

[@FayeCat21]

Living proof that no matter what mistakes you make in life, you can always make a difference! Kudos to these guys!

[@tarheelblue63nc25]

Boris-Smiff yes true. Humans make horrible mistakes. But of course you are perfect.

[@alexandriaahopemorales4334]

My boyfriend did this and he said this is by far the best prison program in California. He learned how to trust other people , team work , skilled training. Bless to say when he was released he got job with cal forestry ✨ he loves it.

[@tarheelblue63nc25]

blamminsuskaz pimp shut up

[@anthonynelson2897]

I work with these guys a few times a week most of them are good people and are just trying to get there lives back on track and yea hand crews do the shit work the places where the dozers can’t go I appreciate each and every one of these guys

[@bab777734]

I have f/f for 20 years When that red bus show up your day HAS GOT ALOT EASIER THANK'S TO ALL THOSE GUYSS!!!!!!!!!!!

[@edsoncuevas8570]

Cool! My girlfriends dad is a fire caption for CalFire and he's told me about the fire inmates and how they do a real good job

[@tacai24]

So true. I had only positive experiences working with these guys. They put in a lot of line for our burnout operations.

[@stevenvalvana2024]

Your welcome Capt. My heart goes out to all of you with the loss of 4242. He was the transport operator for MMU . he was out of my unit and happen to have spent many of lunch breaks with him. He always had time to offer help to anyone who asked. Hes going to be well missed.

[@stevenvalvana2024]

I can say this, that all 15 black ,white , brown or green when it comes to being part of a task that shows recognition to them they will not come off that line till its complete. Sprain ankles, chainsaw injuries busted fingers, they will not come off that line. We are as one and only one.

[@tamarakelli687]

Amen!

[@jeromeduane8289]

I'm from the Napa valley last year we suffered a bad fire season and without these guys I wouldn't have a hometown

[@victorregalado5464]

2018 CAMP FIRE I was a inmate firefighter 21 years old 1st Saw. I wish we could have saved your town I’m from Los Angeles but seeing the whole town escaping gave me the chills because we were going up against hotLINE 🔥 I shed tears watching the whole town in ashes..feeling defeated 😕 we pulled a 48 hour shift I spend my 22nd birthday on the line the roaring of the extreme fire activity felt like hell on earth.. high winds & burning timber made the topography unpredictable. My prayers are that Paradise will be Paradise again no one deserves this type of demise. CarrFire Hirtzfire ☝🏼

[@sterlingreece9355]

There should be a bronze statue of every one of you guys

[@lostinyoutube4748]

Regardless if you are an inmate or not. If you are a firefighter, you are my brother. A hero is not born. A hero is not made. A hero is just a person baptized by fire. Keep safe my brothers from a firefighter from the other side of the world.

[@avidinhadacris]

Great video! I live in that area! I've seen these guys working up close! Thank you for your hard work! You guys are loved and appreciated by the communities you help and I think that more people should see this video.

[@AnonYmous-iw8rf]

The end of the day these guys are doing good when on the out they'd be committing crimes or gambling starting fights in prison. Love it. Love everything about it. True rehabilitation. Sense of purpose for these young men

[@tamarakelli687]

I applaud this program and will always support it.

[@danielponce9454]

I went to fire camp... Best physically mental experience of my life ..... Wasn't easy to get there ..but hard work and the right state of mind .made it happen. I'm thankful for the calfire program . Cc#20

[@M1keh0ncho]

These boys deserve the most credit. Yeah they’ve done shitty things but I’ve done the same training they’ve done. Nobody should ever question if we need them and not. These boys are the ones busting their ass to stop the fire... and they belong, and they deserve respect

[@elliotfernandotabaresornel5478]

shout out to antelope camp, washington ridge camp, and parlin fork camp and cal fire for the cool experiences

[@noblelies]

CCC's camps were some of the best. I love how they have done such quality work in improving the lives of their inmates. Now, hopefully they return the favor by bringing that same spirit when they return to society.

[@TrainsForever]

3:14 😂 tree got lucky

[@joelkarlis3530]

I worked in a jail for 3 years and I fully support this. In my experience most of these inmates have never worked a hard day in their lives. Making them work hard is a service to them in the end, rather than just letting them sit around and watch tv the whole time.

[@mezzaninex]

Joel Karlis "just letting them sit around and watch tv the whole time." That would qualify them to be President.

[@tarheelblue63nc25]

mezzaninex it would. Worked for Obama when he wasn’t community organizing.

[@tacai24]

Keep turning it around. You guys put in great work out there. My hotshot days have followed me and I am better for it.You all will be too.

[@raven22at]

Good work Gentleman,I am proud of you.

[@hernancortes8697]

Mad respect to these guys. But they are type 2 and definitely not like USFS hotshots

[@kelleyrogers8107]

E-41 Cor exactly , when they PIO said that, I had to chuckle. They can do good work, but are most definitely not like Hotshots.

[@daveg8993]

You are absolutely wrong. These guys are full on certified Type I crews. And yes, their output is equal to, or better than "hotshots", but without the hype. They bust ass. From a retired Cal Fire Captain (who, btw, never worked in the camp system).

[@tarheelblue63nc25]

E-41 Cor Who said they were? Just couldn’t offer credit to them could you.

[@tarheelblue63nc25]

Kelley Rogers who said they were?

[@jackdaniels8356]

Good job inmates .. keep up the good work. Much love.

[@timothyokelley8423]

Shot out too all the dudes at konocti camp 27 i was there for 7 months we did our thang santa rosa Klamath so cal thomas fire kon 3 best crue at that canp

[@chrisgraves310]

You don't make between $2 - $3.90 per hour. You make up to $2.84 per DAY and $1 an hour fighting fires. CAL-FIRE always screws you on your money too.

[@moedoe9167]

2017 First saw team Parlin Fork Crew 3 Capt. BRANDON. BEST EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFE. THANKS! SINCERE

[@kbdefay]

Thank you for your hard work!

[@dorothytom5600]

As long as this is purely voluntary, I think this is a great program. So many public amenities (tunnels, canals, embankments, dams, trails) are due to inmate labor. Maybe farming next?

[@ac1dP1nk]

so they get to put ordinary people out of work for their slave labour. great

[@elijahwhitfield428]

@@ac1dP1nk it's not slave labor if it's voluntary

[@jamesmcpherson8599]

@@elijahwhitfield428 yeah but they literally pay you next to nothing 🙄 they don't get a living wage for that work that a person that isn't incarcerated would.

[@elijahwhitfield428]

@@jamesmcpherson8599 yeah I get it, but again, it's literally voluntary. They are not forced labor. And there's other incentive in regards to a lessened sentence. They are also convicts, serving a prison sentence. so idk broseph they all seem pretty stoked to be out there when you meet them on the line.

[@camoman132]

@@jamesmcpherson8599 it's a living wage for the prison commissary, once they are out they can become firemen or woman.

[@angeleyes7417]

Great job men

[@barbarapeech8219]

thank you guys now you're doing God's work taking care of his Lambs.

[@repentuklondonwatchman1373]

This Is A Good Work

[@codythelibertarian7264]

It must feel nice to be trusted with some responsibility. Looks like a win for everyone.

[@paultupua4338]

CDF Los Robles Crew 3 1992 to 1993.

[@savantianprince]

Great program

[@tyecables8547]

I really hope there's a cal fire slot and cert waiting for these guys when they get out

[@ThePtown91]

Eel river crew 1 i was there with this guy, 2012 2013 2014. i left Oct 30, 2014. i always wonder were all these guys are now since we went threw alot of stuff together out in the fire.

[@tlbatiste1487]

Sgt. Reeder is a liar because regardless if you're a firefighter you're going to be treated as an inmate first

[@p.parker8304]

Yes they made mistakes, but these men should be commended and recognized for their positive work in helping the community.

[@dinopharis2876]

does this remind you of the Army civilian work program they are making under 3$ per hr.not all are bad people they cannot ever be a civil service with a feloney.but risking lives by a state that has a low parole rate and by the number 1 incarcerated country in the world.I think this will instill values of life and can be life changing but on the flip side it's almost slave labor.I hope they get time reduction or good recomendations at parol hearings.

[@francisformalhautmoon535]

God bless you guys damn Heroes

[@SacksThriftAve]

Swamper Antelope Crew 4 here! 2013 - 14

[@slopcrusher3482]

These guys need to stay careful out there. They seem like they want to prove themselves to the others that they are just as good as the other firefighters.

[@jeffreydonaldson7423]

I guess it isn't a smoke free zone, like it is in some prisons.

[@MrEsEeFe]

Men and woman who fight fires are true heroes

[@enriqueaguilar7209]

Lol mellow was my Swamper but pretty much the captain on crew 3 in 2016 😂

[@erickyle5604]

So, when they get parole, hire them into the forest service as a way to get back in track.

[@robertspivey8446]

No one ever gives these guys credit and they cant b firemen when they get out thats some bullshitt for putting your life on the line🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔

[@freshstart3555]

Cool video. That jo ain't no joke.

[@ekxtraoutswizz4rmdaave71]

I was at this camp crew 3 2nd saw cpt botham was a beast with the saw

[@enriqueaguilar7209]

Good times on the crew!

[@ryanforster8761]

do they fight fires shackled?

[@serg1984LA]

CYA Washington Ridge crew 1 .... #88542

[@juliosanchez4185]

Eel river !!!!

[@trevync]

One thing nobody ever mentions is that there are volunteer firefighters out they not making any money.

[@nick86654]

@ 2:13 must be a bad hip...

[@uptowncmo6217]

I just left growlersburg camp #33 that shit is serious nobody know all the things we did to protect their community free my niggas out that thang

[@mattcantt4415]

what stops them from trying to escape?

[@chrisgraves310]

Going back to prison with more time

[@ffandrewd2986]

And they want to get their life back on track

[@maxhallman1036]

More time and also a CCD guard along with a CalFire BC both of which are LEOs

[@JackIsNotInTheBox]

Better than stuck in a cell

[@ralphvielma8832]

VAL3!! YEA BOY !

[@emilianocontreras5430]

Mt Bullion

[@jameshardman7536]

We pay them and reduce their sentence. ?? They should be willing to help and not spend day in day out in a cell

[@maxhallman1036]

They volunteer for this

[@jasonriede6056]

Not even close to a real hotshot crew

[@joseocejo9896]

CYA 2000 crew #2 Mount Bullion Mariposa California pollasky Mcloud to saw cutting line let do this Crew2💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼🙏👌🏼👍🏼😎

[@geraldmyers3660]

Savin yourself bro!

[@elijahwasik4042]

Mates and Hotshots getting put on the same level of skill? 😂 typical cal fire and there type 2 bagger shit.

[@RashaadRahh]

Wow our prison system is so bad that men would rather risk their lives doing dangerous manual labor for less than $1/hr and some “good food”. Disgusting government. This work is for a good cause but it is disgusting how unfairly they are compensating these men for their work. Let those filthy rich insurance companies hire some people to risk their lives in order to protect those expensive ass hillside homes. Disgusting, sick prison system.

[@babayega_]

RashaadRahh it's only a dollar an hour if they're out there working. Times they spend at the camp not working is a dollar a day. Not per hour

[@pdswrld5200]

Joe Days totally wrong is same in prison is an dollar an hour so top comment is right✌

[@babayega_]

Pete Martinez you might want to check the sources bro. I was supposed to go to fire camp when I was in prison. I signed so the papers and that's in the paperwork. The only reason I didn't go is because I had holds on me from another state so the prison I was at would not let me go to minimum security. But I'm sure they're enough resources on Google that of you check out will confirm what I said. Btw in only speaking in California. If it's different in other states I wouldn't know. I can only speak about what I've been through

[@JohnDoe-yq5bd]

Youre not very smart are you, calfire is a public state run fire service. These fire programs are in association with public prisons and are under calfire. Also you talk about how they get paid $1. Well for 1 they choose to be there and 2. 75% of firefighters in the country are unpaid volunteers so what exactly are you on about?

[@pdswrld5200]

Joe Days ok bro sorry I was just talking from my experience I also was locked up in southern California CYA jail & chino 👊✌

[@pavlovsdoggies]

Legalized slavery - your looking at the future

[@Someone-cb3zx]

pavlovsdoggies they have a choice to do it

[@tarheelblue63nc25]

pavlovsdoggies not forced to do it.

[@vinnieortega]

just like combat???...no

[@lookslikemeatsbackonthemen7030]

vinnie ortega you probably never seen combat before, boy

[@Rangerfan-gz1rx]

vinnie ortega firefighting is a lot like combat, you are just fighting a war against a force of nature rather than other humans. Whether you are fighting a wild fire or a structure fire, you have a strategic attack, every person has a job and if any one person doesn't do the job they've been given than the fire doesn't get put out and lives are at risk, the fire service is a lot like the military, when we go into that burning building or jump out of the plane into a wildfire or whatever, when your fighting that fire you are fighting a war, like I said before the only difference is that you are fighting a force of nature rather than another human. Fire doesn't discriminate, it doesn't care what you are, who you are, what you believe, it never stops moving it just keeps spreading destroying and killing everything in its path, and the only thing standing in its way is you when your out there on the fire line.

[@adventureguy4119]

Fire can be more brutal sometimes

[@FlatRangeOperator]

I WAS in combat and can vouch for vinnie. Trust me you can run from a fire. You cannot run from bullets or RPG fire. This is far easier than combat.

[@mindovermatter2150]

Fires kill. Just like bullets kill. Wildland Fire Fighting is COMBAT. Combat defines to withstand or prevent.