Women Firefighters at Puerta La Cruz Conservation Camp
At Puerta La Cruz Conservation Camp, thirty-three incarcerated women are stepping up to help combat California’s wildfire season as part of a program aimed at transforming their lives.
Since 1983, CAL FIRE and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) have collaborated specifically on initiatives involving female prison labor.
Puerta La Cruz is one of only two conservation camps for women, alongside Malibu, that trains these women to fight wildfires. By doing so, they can earn $7.25 an hour while also obtaining a reduced sentence.
“I think a lot of us carry a lot of guilt, remorse, and shame… It’s rewarding because doing this allows us to serve our community and push our bodies physically beyond what we thought was possible,” shared one woman who previously dealt with a drunk driving charge.
The Central California Women’s Facility (CCWF) also accommodates women prisoners and offers various opportunities for redemption, although the training there does not focus specifically on wildfire firefighting.
Priscilla Challis, one of the incarcerated firefighters, expressed her sense of fulfillment: “There are many reasons I love this job, but the most important one is to give back to the community I came from. I committed a crime and I’m here paying the price for it.” She added, “What I love about this job is everything…I love the sisterhood and the mentorship.”
The firefighting training includes a “tool-out” inspection to check equipment and assess knowledge. Participants take part in a one-hour hike, fire evacuation drills, and an hour of constructing fire lines.
With around 8,000 wildfires yearly in California, CAL FIRE relies significantly on inmate crews to help contain these fires. It’s noted that nearly half of the firefighting team comprises incarcerated individuals.
As of April 2026, approximately 1,920 incarcerated firefighters are currently assigned to fire camps throughout California.
The work can be demanding, with firefighters potentially operating day and night, followed by a 24-hour recovery period. Some might work 12-hour shifts before resting for an equal amount of time.
Lt. Michael Bennett, who oversees the program, praised the women at the camp for their toughness. He mentioned, “You’ll see the male crew cut the line. It might be 300 to 400 yards, but it’s wavy. The female crew goes that far, but it’s perfectly straight because of their attention to detail.” He confidently remarked, “I’ll pit the female crew against the male crew any day.”
The firefighting program is voluntary and requires inmates to compete for a spot, meaning not everyone is eligible. For many, this opportunity represents more than just a job; it’s a chance to create a better future. Participants acknowledge that while they can’t change the past, they are committed to making amends through service.
State statistics suggest the program could be effective; the recidivism rate for inmates who have spent at least a year in a fire camp stands at 31.6%.
