CDCR – Norco Adult Conservation (Fire) Camp #0

Camp History

Norco Conservation Camp is located in the City of Norco. The Navy established the facility in the early 1940’s and following the 2nd closure of the Norconian Resort Supreme. The Navy used the Norconian Resort Supreme as a hospital following WWII and the Korean War. Norco Conservation Camp was established in 1972. Norco Conservation Camp shares land with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) outside of the California Rehabilitation Center (CRC) prison fence. Norco Conservation Camp operates four California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) Inmate Fire Crews and is staffed by 9 Fire Captains. Norco Conservation Camp receives inmates from CRC and the Inmate firefighter training is conducted at the Camp. Norco Conservation Camp facilitates a sign shop. The sign shop products include: uniform name tags, vehicle striping and decals, CAL FIRE facility signs, plaques, Incident Command boards, other vinyl and laser engraved products and boards for State, County and City agencies.

Norco Conservation Camp is proud to serve the citizens of California in all Emergency and public conservation needs.

Norco Conservation Camp was activated on November 06, 1972, with a population of 40 civil committed addicts from CRC. The camp is located outside the fence at the southwest corner of the institution. Facilities consisted of an existing CDCR owned 40 X 60 wooden building utilized as an office with two metal “Quonset” type prefab surplus buildings owned by the California Department of Forestry and later erected by the camp crews to serve as a workshop and tool warehouse. In 1973, a fuel storage facility was moved to Norco Camp and in 1979 a metal, 4-door equipment storage building was erected to house the crew vehicles.

The California Department of Forestry (CDF) staff positions were taken originally from Prado and Rainbow camps consisting of one Ranger I, and three fire crew supervisors. In 1975 the camp was increased to three crews for a total of 60 residents and with an increase to six fire crews. The Ranger I position was upgraded to a Ranger II position in 1977, and three carpenter buses were received the same year and placed in service.

By 1978 the population of the camp included felony commitments as well as addicts. In 1980 approximately 50% were CRC felons. In March of 1980 female inmates participated in the camp program with two female inmates from the women’s unit being assigned to in camp support positions. Today 100 percent of the Norco Conservation Camp inmates are male felons from CRC. The inmate firefighters reside within CRC, atypical of other CDCR Conservation Camps.

In 1981 the first continuous “In-Camp Project” was officially initiated. This was the manufacturing of CDF uniform name tags and other engraved products on a statewide basis. Name Tags and other plastic signs were also manufactured for CDC.