Over the course of 2020, California has seen over 9,500 fires and over 4 million acres of land burned. In 2020, catastrophic wildfires stretched the State of California and firefighting crews to the near breaking point. In response, Assembly Bill 2147 was signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom in September. With the law set to take effect in the new year, reporter Cassidy Taylor has the details…
For decades, thousands of inmate firefighters have battled wildfires across the state, working alongside professional firefighters in the same hazardous conditions. Assembly Bill 2147 will make it easier for inmate firefighters to earn an emergency medical technician certification after their release by expunging their felony record. The certification is often the first step in becoming a professional firefighter in most cities and counties. With their record eliminated, they could be considered for EMT programs and jobs the same as any other applicant. Former inmates convicted of violent offenses, including murder, kidnapping and arson, would automatically be ineligible from having their records expunged. California has approximately 3,700 incarcerated people working in the inmate firefighting program, with about 2,600 qualified to work fire lines.
