US, Los Angeles: Castaic Inmate Firefighting Camp Crews Get Practice Ahead of Heat Wave with AERIALS.

Los Angeles, United States - May 27, 2026 05/27/2026 12:00 PM GMT-0700 CASTAIC, Calif. – As Southern California enters peak wildfire season with temperatures expected to swing past the century mark, the Los Angeles County Fire Department joined the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation today for a live grass fire training exercise at Castaic Lake. The drill gave inmate hand crews the opportunity to construct hand lines in a live-fire training environment designed to simulate real wildfire conditions. During the exercise, sections of dry grass were intentionally ignited while crews worked along the fire’s edge using hand tools to remove vegetation and prevent the flames from spreading. Officials said the training is intended to ensure crews remain prepared for the upcoming wildfire season. The exercise also included operational readiness demonstrations, with crews conducting tool inspections and gear checkouts before completing fire line construction assignments. Crews additionally tested teamwork and decision-making skills under active fire line conditions. Acting Lieutenant Daniel Pineda with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation told Key News Network the training is critical as fire season intensifies across the region. “Today we get the crew out to go ahead and experience training, get some knowledge on dealing with a live fire,” Pineda said. Pineda explained that hand crews play a major role in slowing wildfire spread by removing fuel sources ahead of advancing flames. “When the grass is burning, they get the tools. They want to move the dirt around, get the embers out because a lot of times the embers are what causes more fires that spread,” Pineda said. “You create a gap between the fire and more grass to eliminate the embers and stop it from spreading.” Many of the firefighters participating in the exercise were incarcerated individuals assigned to California’s conservation camp program, recognizable by their orange firefighting gear. “They provide a service to the community,” Pineda said. “They get training just like firefighters would. That is what makes them special.” Pineda said the program gives incarcerated men and women an opportunity to develop discipline, teamwork, and potential career opportunities after release. “It gives them a new motivation,” he said. “They come from a past and they try to work themselves into a better life. So this gives them an opportunity and a future.” According to Pineda, earning a position on a conservation camp fire crew is highly competitive and requires extensive physical training. “They work really hard. The hiking is not easy. They train eight hours a day,” Pineda said. “They put in a lot of work, men and women.” The conservation camp program has long assisted California fire agencies during major wildfire incidents, with hand crews often working directly on the front lines protecting homes and communities from fast-moving fires. Drone footage featured here has been reviewed and verified by Key News Network LLC. This aerial UAV footage complies with and conforms to the FAA Part 107 guidelines. All operations were conducted by FAA-certified Part 107 UAS pilot(s). Related information can be provided upon request.