CDCR – Bautista Conservation (Fire) Camp #36

CDCR – Bautista Conservation (Fire) Camp #36 basic information to help guide you through what you can do for your inmate while they are incarcerated. The facility's direct contact number: 951-927-3600

This facility is for adult inmates.

The inmates housed at Bautista Conservation Camp #36 located at 33015 Bautista Canyon Rd in Hemet, CA are placed according to their custody level (determined by a number of factors including the past criminal history and the length of their sentence). There are ample educational and vocational training programs for all inmates, especially ones that show a willingness to learn new things that will prepare them for a better life when they are released. The mission is to promote and prepare the offender to leave in better shape than when they arrived, giving them the best chance to never come back and thus lower the state's recidivism rate.

Camp History – The camp is nestled in the Historical Bautista Canyon, the route used by the Conquistador Juan Bautista de Anza in his discovery of the Riverside and San Bernardino Valleys. Also known as the sight of the original Bautista springtime exercises.

Located some 3000 feet in elevation, the camp is exposed to a medley of climatic conditions, typical to its high desert terrain. Often the summer is dry and hot, while the winter is cold, with occasional snowfall in the months of December through April.

The primary mission of the camp is to provide trained hand crews to assist the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection with suppression of wildland fires, emergency flood control, and Search and Rescue. Bautista has proudly represented the camp program by responding to emergency incidents from the borders of Oregon to Mexico and the Pacific Ocean to Nevada/Arizona.

Bautista has a maximum capacity of 120 inmates, which provide six trained firefighting hand crews. When not responding to emergency incidents, the inmates' work on conservation projects including the eradication of nonnative plant species at Diamond Valley Lake and Lake Matthews, fighting the bark beetle infestation in and around the community of Idyllwild. Community projects have included the construction of community centers, fire stations, parks, and soccer and baseball fields for Valley-Wide Recreation District. Bautista’s cabinet shop is in demand throughout Riverside Ranger Unit, to design and remodel their offices and living spaces. Bautista is also known for its expertise in making plaques, signs, and distinctive logos.

On June 27, 1990, the worst tragedy that a camp could endure hit Bautista. Seventeen Bautista crewmembers were overrun while battling a fire in the Domenigieni Mountains, Southwest of Hemet. This fire resulted in the death of two Bautista crew members, Victor Ferrara and Aaron Perry.

In remembrance of the fallen firefighters of Bautista and fallen firefighters throughout the State, a memorial began to take shape and “THE FIREFIGHTER” was dedicated in 1997.

Inmate Programs – Hobby, College Correspondence, GED, AA/NA, Fire Fighter I Training (provided through CAL Fire), and various religious volunteers.

visitation Info

Visiting hours for PRISON_NAME. For Directions call PRISON_PHONE

Sunday 8:00 am – 3:00 pm
Monday 8:00 am – 9:00 pm
Tuesday 8:00 am – 9:00 pm
Wednesday 8:00 am – 9:00 pm
Thursday 8:00 am – 9:00 pm
Friday 8:00 am – 9:00 pm
Saturday 8:00 am – 3:00 pm
Federal Holidays 8:00 am – 3:00 pm

No cellphones, you will be searched before visiting. NO personal belongings. Persons under probation, parole, or other community corrections supervision must obtain the permission of both their individual supervising officer and the superintendent prior to a visit. Such visitation is not normally approved. 

If the visitor is under the age of 18 and is a family member of the inmate, they must be accompanied by an adult family member or guardian to include a member of the inmate's extended family. If the visitor is under the age of 18 and is not a family member of the inmate, the minor visitor must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.