The Los Angeles County Fire Department will soon offer job opportunities to formerly incarcerated individuals with wildland firefighting experience. On Tuesday, the L.A. County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion to establish intern positions and other entry-level roles within the department. This initiative aims to provide a pathway for those who have served as firefighters while incarcerated to transition into professional roles after their release.
The motion, authored by Supervisor Hilda Solis, seeks to address the systemic barriers that formerly incarcerated individuals face when seeking employment, particularly in fields where they have already demonstrated competence. “They put their lives on the line for the safety of others, yet when released, they face systemic barriers to employment — even in the very field where they’ve already proven themselves,” Solis said, according to LAist.
The new program will include a two-year career development intern position designed to prepare participants for roles such as fire suppression aid. However, certain criminal backgrounds, including arson convictions or registered sex offenses, will be excluded from eligibility. The county fire department and legal counsel are tasked with reporting back in 60 days on any hiring requirements that need to be waived for these intern roles.
The program will be funded by Measure E, a general fire protection tax approved by voters last year. L.A. County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone emphasized that the initiative is part of a broader effort to integrate formerly incarcerated individuals into the workforce, providing them with valuable skills and opportunities for career advancement.
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