A California fire department forges a new generation of conservation practitioners

In wealthy, segregated Marin County, a pioneering recruitment program breaks down barriers to the firefighting profession

 

It was noon— and lunchtime. Armando Jimenez and Jesús Chavez took off their hard hats and sat down at a picnic table in Memorial Park in Marin County, California. The park is bordered on three sides by a playground, a parking lot and a baseball field. If a fire threatened it, it would likely approach from the fourth side, a steep hill that was, until recently, covered with flammable brush.

Thanks to Jimenez, Chavez and their crewmates, that hillside has since been cleared of small trees, branches and twigs. Now, if a spark ignited a fire, the flames would be much less likely to climb into the treetops and start a dangerous conflagration.

Jimenez and Chavez are part of the first cohort of FIRE Foundry, a job-training program that aims to diversify the Marin County Fire Department and possibly serve as a model, not only for the firefighting profession but for the broader conservation workforce. With funding from the state of California and earnings from its own fuel-reduction services, FIRE Foundry offers its recruits full-time employment, temporary housing at the fire station, assistance with basic expenses, mental health support, tutoring, free uniforms and boots, a full scholarship at the local community college and training in emerging fire technology, including remote sensing programs and predictive services. 

“I really want to see more minorities in the fire service,” said 21-year-old Jimenez, who was born and raised in Mexico and sought asylum in the United States in 2010. “That’s the major thing (that) made me want to join.”

Despite studies suggesting that communities are best served by first responders who reflect local diversity, professional firefighters are overwhelmingly white and male — both in Marin County and nationwide. Marin is one of California’s richest counties. It’s also the most segregated county in the Bay Area, and so, several years ago, Fire Chief Jason Weber decided to tackle his department’s diversity problem by addressing its deeper causes.

One of those causes, said Weber, is that the “feeder programs” that funnel people into the profession — volunteer and seasonal firefighting programs, junior college classes that lead to further training — offer low or no wages. “We’re trying to break that mold,” he said. “We’re trying to break systemic cycles of poverty, generational poverty, and that has to do with the importance of a sustainable-wage career.”

While the program is still in its infancy, observers say its approach could help diversify related professions in land management and restoration. “I know the (conservation) world really well, and it is and always has been dominated by white men,” said Rhea Suh, current president of the Marin Community Foundation and a former leader of diversity programs for the Department of the Interior. “I am fascinated that there are people on the ground like the Marin fire chief, who’s saying to himself, without any kind of outside pressure, ‘We have to figure out a sustainable way to maintain our pipeline and ... if we are going to attract more people of color, more women, we need to have a different attitude and posture.’” 

“These can be the great jobs of the next century.”

As the impacts of climate change deepen, Suh pointed out, demand for workers trained in restoration and adaptation will only grow. “We know the fires are coming. We know sea-level rise is happening. Why can’t we really think about the pipeline for these positions?” she asked. “These can be the great jobs of the next century.”

At the lunch table, Chavez said that, at 23, he was surprised to find himself back in school, taking EMT classes. But, he said, “I have to face it. It’s to become a better person for myself.”

As a kid, he said, he wanted to join the fire service but didn’t know how to get in. He applied for FIRE Foundry after seeing it advertised on Instagram. He soon took to the hard work, the time outdoors, and the camaraderie among his fellow firefighters.

“They get down and dirty,” he said. “I like that. Everyone’s close, like a whole family.”   

Danielle Venton is a science reporter interested in wildfire resilience working out of the California Bay Area. 

We welcome reader letters. Email High Country News at [email protected] or submit a letter to the editor. See our letters to the editor policy.

High Country News Classifieds
  • CONSERVATION EASEMENT PROGRAM MANAGER
    We are seeking a dedicated natural resources professional to lead FRLT's Conservation Easement Stewardship Program. This position is responsible for maintaining professional working relationships with...
  • PUBLIC PROGRAMS MANAGER
    We are looking for a hands-on leader to bring our public programs to life in Sierra Valley and across the Watershed. This role offers a...
  • MATADOR RANCH MANAGER
    The Matador Ranch Manager directs operations, communication, and maintenance for TNC Montana's Matador Ranch preserve with a focus on ecological management and restoration, grazing management,...
  • EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - THRIVE HOOD RIVER (OREGON)
    Thrive Hood River (Oregon) is looking for a collaborative leader who cares deeply about Hood River's wild places, farmland and the quality of life in...
  • NORTHERN NEW MEXICO PROJECT MANAGER
    Seeking qualified Northern New Mexico Project Manager to provide expertise, leadership and support to the organization by planning, cultivating, implementing and managing land conservation activities....
  • NORTH FORK RECREATION DISTRICT ADMINISTRATOR
    The NFPPRD District Administrator provides leadership and managerial services associated with the Recreation District. Facilities include a seasonal pool, ballfields, bike trails, tennis/pickleball and skateboarding....
  • EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, BADLANDS CONSERVATION ALLIANCE
    The Executive Director of the Badlands Conservation Alliance (BCA) builds and leads a premiere North Dakota advocacy group that serves to protect the ecology of...
  • CLIMATE FELLOW
    Application deadline: Monday, March 6th, 2023, at 5 p.m. MST. Anticipated start date: May 15, 2023 About the position Are you ready to craft an...
  • RISING LEADERS MANAGER
    Application deadline: Monday, March 27, 2023, at 5 p.m. MST Anticipated start date: May 22 or May 30, 2023 About the position Do you want...
  • SENIOR SPECIALIST, LANDSCAPE CONNECTIVITY YELLOWSTONE TO YUKON CONSERVATION INITIATIVE
    About the Organization Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative (Y2Y) is a joint Canada-U.S. not-for-profit organization with a mission to connect and protect wildlife habitat from...
  • VIRGINIA SPENCER DAVIS FELLOWSHIP
    High Country News, an award-winning magazine covering the communities and environment of the Western United States, seeks applicants for a Virginia Spencer Davis fellow. The...
  • GRANTS MANAGER
    The Grants Manager is a passionate information manager, fundraiser, and communicator versed in government and foundation grant and cooperative agreement writing and management, specifically to...
  • COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
    The Communications Director is a passionate communications professional versed in conservation and regenerative agriculture, as well as nonprofit communications and data management across several program...
  • EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAM DIRECTOR
    The Education and Outreach Director is a people-oriented facilitator, communications wizard, and team leader who has experience designing, managing, and fundraising for land based educational...
  • ADOBE HOME FOR SALE
    Restored traditional adobe home in No. New Mexico on 1+ acre site, irrigation water, separate large shop/studio. Please email for photos/full description.
  • HIGH COUNTRY NEWS EDITORIAL INTERNS
    High Country News, an award-winning magazine covering the communities and environment of the Western United States, is looking for its next cohort of editorial interns....
  • DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM SPECIALIST
    hat We Can Achieve Together: If you are a detailed individual that takes pride in your accuracy, this position may be the perfect opportunity for...
  • EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - LEMHI COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY (SALMON, IDAHO)
    Are you ready to take the reins at Lemhi County Humane Society and make a difference in the lives of countless animals? We are seeking...
  • ENVIRONMENTAL AND CONSTRUCTION GEOPHYSICS
    We characterize contaminated sites, identify buried drums, tanks, debris and also locate groundwater.
  • WESTERN NATIVE SEED
    Native plant seeds for the Western US. Trees, shrubs, grasses, wildflowers and regional mixes. Call or email for free price list. 719-942-3935. [email protected] or visit...