LOS ANGELES — A specialized strike team from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) has joined more than 75,000 firefighters in battling relentless wildfires across Southern California. Working tirelessly to protect lives and communities, the 21-person team was deployed to the Palisades fire on Jan. 8.
Led by Fire Chief Jesse Corrales of the CDCR Office of Correctional Safety, the team has been instrumental in suppression and recovery efforts in the Palisades area. Corrales described the initial scene as chaotic and hazardous.
“When we first arrived, it was dark, power was out, and the roads were filled with downed power poles, burning vehicles, rubble, and debris,” Corrales said. “The fire was burning and spreading at a rapid rate.”
Corrales assembled a team of highly trained firefighters from CDCR firehouses across the state, including those at Folsom State Prison, the California Institution for Men in Chino, Chuckawalla Valley State Prison, Mule Creek State Prison in Ione, and High Desert State Prison in Susanville. Together, they joined approximately 5,200 firefighters working to contain the massive blaze.
Despite significant containment progress, dangers remain due to high winds that can reignite embers buried in rubble. The team’s duties have included fire suppression, triage, tactical patrol, mop-up operations, and community support. Corrales emphasized the meticulous nature of their work, which often involves treating structures and vehicles as potential crime scenes while ensuring hotspots are extinguished.
“I have been in the fire service for over 20 years and responded to well over 100 campaign incidents,” Corrales said. “This is one of the worst I’ve seen in terms of property damage and loss.”
Beyond suppression efforts, the strike team has played a critical role in helping families return to their homes during the “re-populating” process. They assist residents in navigating the devastation and retrieving personal belongings from damaged properties, according to the CDCR.
The CDCR strike team operates under the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), Fire & Rescue Division, which coordinates emergency response efforts statewide. Strike teams typically work 24-hour shifts and are deployed for a maximum of 21 days. While the Palisades fire currently has only one CDCR strike team on-site, their early contributions have been vital in stabilizing the area.
Corrales praised the team’s dedication and professionalism.“We have been here over a week, and I couldn’t be prouder of my team,” he said. “They have shown effort, professionalism, and resilience while faced with adversity and uncommon circumstances.”
As mop-up and recovery efforts continue, CDCR’s strike team remains a testament to the skill and commitment of the agency’s firefighting crews.
