They learned to fight fires while incarcerated. Now, LA County provides a path back to firefighting

In black uniforms complete with ties, a group of female firefighting trainees — most formerly incarcerated — marched beneath rolling green hills near Las Virgenes Road on a recent Monday.
Among them, Elizabeth Melendez stood out. At 45, she’s older than her peers, and she was a firefighter while serving time.
When she was released in 2018, no programs like the one she is a part of now existed. Finding herself in a similar environment as before she served time, she sought a