Governor Newsom Should Sign the Firefighting to Freedom Package into Law

As we get near the end of this year’s devastating California wildfire season. We must not forget the people who risk their lives to help save communities and the people who live within these communities.  The California Department of Corrections’ (CDCR) incarcerated firefighter program has been instrumental in combating these horrific fires. Without the help of the incarcerated people, California would be short-handed in being able to fight these fires successfully. However, these individuals are being left with few resources to pursue their love after returning home from incarceration.

The importance of returning home to a job and resources can determine how successful someone is upon release. From my own personal experience, I understand what is necessary to be successful after incarceration. Governor Gavin Newsom has made a promise to Californians that he will reduce recidivism in California. One of the bills in the Firefighting to Freedom package, SB 245 (Reyes), creates an automatic record expungement process for formerly incarcerated fire crew members and addresses the barriers that prevent them from becoming professional firefighters after release. This career pathway for formerly incarcerated firefighters would be a great way to reduce the recidivism rate.

This is exactly what these individuals need after committing themselves to fighting fires and saving communities. Creating a new identity after experiencing incarceration is extremely important, as many individuals find themselves repeating the same behaviors in society that they did in prison. For incarcerated firefighters, they have not received that support when reentering society regarding becoming firefighters. Yefry Samael Mata Diaz, a formerly incarcerated person who was involved in the firefighter program in CDCR, stated, “Record expungement would have created more opportunities for him to become a firefighter; while it doesn’t fix all the issues, it does create a pathway.” More pathways for formerly incarcerated people positively impact lowering the recidivism rate, while also allowing formerly incarcerated firefighters to continue the work they were trained to do.

Organizations like Initiate Justice Action (IJA), which advocate and fight for criminal justice reform are encouraging Governor Newsome to please sign this bill. Why? Because IJA understands the process that an incarcerated person must go through to successfully reintegrate.

How can you help? There are many ways a person can get involved with advocating to get SB 245 signed by Governor Newsom. IJA has created support for the Firefighting to Freedom package. These bills—AB 247 (Bryan), SB 245 (Reyes), AB 952 (Elhawary), and AB 799 (Celeste Rodriguez)—support incarcerated firefighters, ensure reasonable pay, provide death benefits for families, and expand opportunities for young people in rehabilitation programs. All one needs to do is click the link and spend less than one minute to show their support for this bill.

If these bills does not get signed into law by October 13, 2025, they will not be made into law, and these firefighters will once again be left with little support to continue with what they love to do. This is an important time to ensure that this public safety measure gets passed, so that when incarcerated firefighters are coming home, they have a pathway to continue what they loved to do, protect our homes and families from devastating wildfires. Gabriel Singer is a formerly incarcerated, Project Rebound Student at SFSU. He is also the Co-Chairman for the Members Action Committee with Initiate Justice Action.

To learn more about IJA and the work they do, please go to ijaction.org