The Inmate Fire Training Facility Builds Their Own Exercise Area

05/08/2013

Becoming an inmate fire fighter is not an easy task. The inmates must pass a 80 hour fire training program taught by the Los Angeles County Fire Department. The 80 hour class is divided up into 40 hours of classroom time and 40 hours of training and practicing. To help the inmates prepare for the rigorous training required to pass the class, the inmates built their own running track and workout area.

A vacant dirt lot was located in front of the barracks where they spend their day training. In approximately one week, the inmates transformed the area from a rock filled dirt lot, to a lush grassy area with a 1/8 mile running track. Later, several workout stations were built around the track area. Now, the inmates are able to run, use the grass for calisthenics, and the workout stations for push-ups, pull ups, sit ups and dips.