To the editor: If the Fire Law passes, thousands of current inmates of the Firefighters field trained in the best practices in fire prevention and active reduction will complete their imprisonment with significant hope of employment anywhere in our nation (“Under the Fire Law, internal firefighters could have a new pipeline for employment,” May 27).
In my seven years as chaplain of the Fire Field 13 in Malibu, I witnessed that hundreds of women were empowered and renewed while protected our forests, mountains and homes. They were the first to respond to the plane crash that killed Kobe Bryant and his daughter and friends. They cleared the brush and treated the site with respect and sadness. These women faced the Palisadas and Eaton's fires for us.
With our gratitude, let these trained firefighters share their courage and skills anywhere in the United States.
Nan Cano, People of Westlake
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To the editor: Applaud to the representatives. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Los Angeles) and Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park) for presenting a bill to finance, mentor and guarantee long-term employment for former firefighters. Years ago, I was horrified to learn how little we paid firefighters, and even less the inmates who also put their lives on the line fighting fires. Andony Corleto and other former inmates who have demonstrated their temper must be encouraged and helped to a firefighter race. We need to prepare all inmates to meet with the skills to make a living.
My grandfather, who was a prison director in Campeche, Mexico, in the 1930s, made the prisoners learn to weave hammocks and open a bakery in prison. They did so well that some of the prisoners' wives asked my grandfather to keep them in prison beyond their sentences, they earned more money there than they had won! Let's support this federal bill.
Carmen Escamilla, San Juan Capistrano
