In a world bound by fear, I chose to break free with faith.

The words of this book do more than just narrate my story; they serve as a tribute to the California Inmate Firefighter Program and the countless men and women who, for over seven decades, have illustrated unshakable courage, dedication, and sacrifice.

What does an average day look like for an inmate firefighter? What does he or she do to help the community? What….How….Why…and a lot more questions like these pushed me to share my story through writing.

I wanted to share the personal transformation I experienced while volunteering in the program—how it gave me purpose, dignity, and a second chance at life. I want my readers to feel how it is to go from being a person trapped in a cycle of crime, addiction, and regret to someone who embraced purpose, redemption, and a new identity as a seasoned firefighter. I became addicted again, but this time to a job and a dream.

I want to publicly acknowledge the Inmate Firefighter Program, where my dream became a reality, where I found a sense of fulfillment, and where I earned respect as a hero. ‘Inmate’ and ‘firefighter’ are titles attached to my name; one was a weight while the other became my wings, lifting me above the limitations of my past. For me, prison was not the end of a road but the start of a unique opportunity to reinvent myself.

This is the story of the life I’ve reclaimed.