Legislators, Formerly Incarcerated Firefighters Urge Passage of Firefighting to Freedom Bills in Session’s Final Stretch

LOS ANGELES – Today, with just three weeks left in the legislative session and with the state in the middle of another dangerous wildfire season, California legislators stood alongside formerly incarcerated firefighters and advocates to uplift the Firefighting to Freedom legislative package – seven bold bills that invest in the incarcerated firefighters who are essential to California’s wildfire response. The package seeks to boost pay for incarcerated firefighters, break down barriers to reentry and ensure those who risk their lives on the frontlines are honored for their service.

The event honored the experiences and courage of formerly incarcerated firefighters who continue to serve and protect our communities across California.

“As someone who has been incarcerated in fire camp myself, the danger is real. We’re right there on the frontlines shoulder to shoulder with federal, state and local agencies. The Firefighting to Freedom package represents not just policy change but hope, opportunity, and justice for folks who served their time and are ready to serve their community," said Chief Royal Ramey, Co-Founder and CEO of The Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program (FFRP), a co-sponsor of AB 1380. At the event were 30 FFRP trainees and alumni, including many formerly incarcerated individuals. 

MCPP Chief Policy Officer, Mayra Lombera, handing off the mic to Chief Ramey.

Bill authors urged swift passage of the package before the September 12 deadline and called on Governor Newsom to sign it, emphasizing that investing in incarcerated firefighters is an investment in public safety.

“Our Firefighting to Freedom bill package is a critical opportunity to invest in restorative justice, ensuring that the incarcerated firefighters who are working on the ground and really acting as heroes to our communities have meaningful opportunities when they come home,” said Assemblymember Sade Elhawary (AD-57), the author of AB 952 and AB 1380. 

“For too long, incarcerated firefighters who risked their lives on the frontlines have returned home without the opportunity to continue that service as professionals. Their dedication deserves dignity, and their sacrifice should not be met with closed doors,” said Capt. Robert Hawkins, President of the LA City Stentorians, where the event was hosted.

“If we truly honor bravery and sacrifice, we must honor it for everyone, not just some. AB 799 is about equality and it’s about compassion and it’s about doing what’s right. I look forward to making sure each of these bills pass,” said Assemblymember Celeste Rodriguez (AD-43), the author of AB 799.

“We’re going to rely more and more on the valor of incarcerated firefighters to save our communities. So it’s time for us to step up and support those who are supporting us,” said Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal (AD-69), the author of AB 812.

“This is about building a future, this is about making sure that we have a fire service that represents and looks like our community, but more importantly, this is about taking folks’ skill and passion and making sure we are putting them to work in good jobs and careers that build not just our communities but all of California,” said Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (SD-28), the author of SB 423. 

“Growing up, I was taught that a promise made must be a promise kept,” said Senator Eloise Gómez Reyes (SD-29), the author of SB 245. “The individuals who are eligible for expungement have paid their debt to society while serving on the front lines of the most dangerous wildfires in our state’s history. These courageous – and qualified – individuals have earned the opportunities before them and it is our duty to remove the barriers that stand between them and successful futures.”

Legislators were joined by local leaders and advocates committed to building a more inclusive and effective fire response system in California.

“Even if you make a mistake, it does not mean that that mistake is so bad that you ought to be judged for the rest of your life for it. All of us deserve a second chance, all of us deserve an opportunity to make our way back,” said Los Angeles City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson. 

“This bill package will strengthen our communities by turning lived experience and proven service into long-term public safety solutions – and that’s why it must be passed without delay,” said Cristine Soto DeBerry, Executive Director of Prosecutors Alliance Action, a co-sponsor of AB 1380.

“For many incarcerated individuals, the chance to serve in California’s fire camps is not a second chance but their first—the first time they are given skills, discipline, and purpose to imagine a different future. Their service deserves acknowledgement, not as temporary labor, but as the foundation for meaningful careers and successful reentry,” said Mayra Lombera, Chief Policy Officer, Michelson Center for Public Policy, a co-sponsor of AB 1380. 

“The Firefighting to Freedom legislative package is not only the right thing to do for our incarcerated and formerly incarcerated firefighters but also a positive step toward our goal to ensure year-round capacity for fire suppression vegetation management and robust emergency response capabilities,” said Brian Fennessy, Fire Chief of the Orange County Fire Authority and President of the California Fire Chiefs Association.

“With the Firefighting to Freedom bill package, we are getting so much closer to what these brave men and women deserve. It’s about equality, it's about justice, and it's about dignity,” said Taina Angeli Vargas, Executive Director of Initiate Justice Action, co-sponsor of AB 247 and AB 1380.

A recording of the event can be found here

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The Michelson Center for Public Policy (MCPP) is a 501(c)(4) organization advancing legislative change through strategic collaboration with policymakers, advocacy organizations, and civic leaders. Focused on education, equity, justice, medical research, and animal welfare, MCPP complements the work of Michelson Philanthropies through bold, effective advocacy. Learn more at www.michelsonpolicy.org.

The Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program (FFRP) is a nonprofit organization that provides career support to formerly incarcerated firefighters and those currently incarcerated in California’s Conservation Camps; who are interested in careers in the Wildland and Forestry sector. FFRP was developed in direct response to the growing need for wildfire-related personnel. Our mission is to increase wildfire personnel from non-traditional and underrepresented communities, providing them the training, skills, resources, and experience needed to secure gainful employment. https://www.forestryfirerp.org/ 

Prosecutors Alliance Action brings together the voices of prosecutors, victim advocates, and allies to advocate for prosecutorial reform and policy solutions that advance long-term safety and well-being in all communities. For more information, visit www.prosecutorsallianceaction.org.

Founded and led by Californians directly impacted by the justice system, Initiate Justice Action mobilizes the collective power of system-impacted people to advocate for policies that end mass incarceration. https://ijaction.org/ 







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Incarcerated Firefighters Get a Fair Shot with Firefighting to Freedom Legislative Package