Increasing Access to Wildland Firefighter Careers

Income inequality

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

There is a demand for employment opportunities in LA County that receives the highest number of parolees from Fire Camps statewide. The Brookings Institute (2018) reports that only 55% of individuals leaving prison generally receive a form of income once home. Among this group surveyed, annual earnings averaged at $10,000 with only one quarter of the group reporting they earned more than $15,000. Not specific to LA, this report is demonstrative of the employment and income equity gap individuals are facing after a period of incarceration. This is doubly meaningful when considering that on release these individuals have limited access to professional employment in this field, despite saving the state more than $100 million each year through their service at Fire Camp. FFRP has found that jobs in the forestry sector are sustainable careers with graduates receiving $50,000-75,000 within their first year–but few can pursue these opportunities without support due to their convictions.

Founded in LA in 2018, FFRP has supported more than 150+ people in the area transition into careers within the fire service. Led by a team of subject matter experts and former forestry professionals, FFRP has designed an innovative training program model to close employment gaps and raise income equality: 1) Career Training Program: This is the primary programming model built with the lived experiences of our staff and trainees in mind. Program runs Fall-Spring for 8 to 12 weeks. Programming is offered twice per program year in LA. FFRP expects to train at least 50 people in LA over the 2024-2025 program. 2) L.A. County Training Center: FFRP's newest program component made for higher need participants is a 1-year live-in facility training option based in Calabasas. FFRP serves 20-60 people per year over the next several years through this program. This is run in partnership with the County. Trainees spend 6-months receiving wildland firefighter training from FFRP, and 6-months with L.A. County Fire receiving structure firefighter training. Trainees are provided with comprehensive case management support, including consistent access to social workers, job application support, financial literacy training, and legal aid. Support from LA2050 will allow FFRP to broaden the number of life-changing economic opportunities provided to our justice-impact community members in Los Angeles through access to family-supporting career opportunities where they will thrive.

Born and raised in LA, FFRP was founded by two individuals, Royal Ramey and Brandon Smith, with the intent to give others a pathway to economic opportunity that was not afforded to them after coming home from Fire Camp. Through their work, they have supported more than 150+ people pursue careers in fire, and have continued to expand their impact through partnerships with other local organizations and businesses to support trainees through programming. They are also providing communities with fire prevention and suppression training projects that better prepare trainees. In 2022, Ramey and Smith were recognized for their life-changing impact in LA, by then Sen. Sydney Kamlager who presented them with a Resolution on behalf of the State. Through FFRP, Ramey and Smith have provided greater access to generative career opportunities, correcting for income inequality for people coming home, and exposing BIPOC communities to career opportunities in forestry where they are underrepresented.

FFRP has completed five cohort cycles and helped 200+ participants statewide gain careers in the forestry sector, with graduates receiving career placement rates in the 90th percentile. FFRP estimates that once placed in the workforce, graduates receive $50,000-75,000 within their first year. FFRP assesses quantitative effectiveness through the measurement of attrition through programming period, graduation rates, employment placement rates, and rates of recidivism (~10%). FFRP relies on anecdotal evidence combined with quantitative data to capture quality of life improvements on participants. To improve quality of data collection, FFRP has begun investing in an overhaul of our data tracking methods, practices, and technical systems to enhance evaluation capabilities and reporting. Improvements will help FFRP to better understand results around long term impacts of programming and prove how this impact links to greater systemic advancements across communities and issue areas.