Fresno Center

Fresno corpsmember carrying a pile of branches.

CCC Fresno Corpsmembers remove dead and dying vegetation at South Shaver Lake. Corpsmembers returned to the area following the Creek Fire to assist CAL FIRE with a fuel break project.

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man smiling in photo

Lunar Martin
District Director
Sacramento & Fresno Energy Centers

The CCC Fresno Center is unique, in that it offers two distinct CCC programs. Corpsmembers can enroll in the Energy Corps and learn basic electrical skills, or they can enroll in natural resource work and learn a variety of skills aimed at improving and enhancing the San Joaquin Valley region’s environment.

The center is located in the heart of Fresno, not far from the Fresno-Yosemite International Airport. As many as 45 Corpsmembers work on crews committed to natural resource work and another 20 Corpsmembers are dedicated to reducing greenhouse gas emissions with the Energy Corps.

All Corpsmembers are able to finish their high school diploma, earn scholarships for college or vocational school, and gain skills to transform their lives.

Natural resource crews work on a variety of projects in and around Fresno, including fuel reduction to create fire breaks in the Sierra Nevada mountains, planting trees along rivers in the Central Valley and responding to emergency requests. Skills to launch a career in forestry are regularly obtained through this program.

Energy Corps crews work on projects related to green technology and learn skills such as basic electrical, energy retrofits, solar, HVAC, EV charging training and more. Energy Corps crews may also participate in tree planting and fuel reduction projects where the goal is to combat greenhouse gas emissions. Corpsmembers can kickstart their careers in green technology through this program.

2536 North Grove Industrial Drive
Fresno, CA 93727
Resource Work: 559-458-0914
Energy Work: 559-458-0918

Life at the Fresno Center

corpsmembers in nomex use hose rolling machines to roll hose

Fresno Corpsmembers use hose rolling machines to roll used fire hose at the Creek Fire base camp. The rolled hose is then shipped to a Forest Service facility for inspection and re-deployment. 

The Fresno Center is a non-residential location. Corpsmembers commute to the center each day for work.

Crews typically work four 10-hour workdays, Monday through Thursday. Occasionally, crews may “spike” at project sites. Spikes are where Corpsmembers camp near their project sites in rural locations where a daily commute is not possible. Spikes typically last eight days, from Wednesday to Wednesday.

Energy Corps crews may work evening shifts to complete energy projects at government and non-profits facilities during off-hours to lessen the impact of the work. Energy Corpsmembers also typically work four-day work weeks.

Corpsmembers can participate in the Corpsmember Advisory Board (CAB). The CAB is responsible for operating a Corpsmember store at the facility, the recycling program, and selecting weekend volunteer events.

Corpsmembers regularly participate in volunteer events throughout the greater Fresno region. Volunteering is a hallmark of the CCC and is required to earn the CCC Brad Duncan Scholarship.

Projects

female corpsmember measures wood support beam while building boardwalk

Fresno Corpsmember Mariah Byers measures a support beam as part of a boardwalk construction project at San Buenaventura State Beach in Ventura County.

The Fresno Center’s natural resource crews perform a wide range of projects that includes conservation and restoration of ecosystems, fuel hazard reduction, planting of native shrubs and trees, invasive weed/plant eradication, trail construction and more. Project work typically takes places in Fresno County, but the center also does work in Madera, Tulare, and King’s counties.

Wildland Firefighting: The CCC Fresno Center operates a wildland firefighting hand crew in partnership with CAL FIRE. Corpsmembers receive training and hands-on experience working with CAL FIRE captains responding to wildfires year-round locally and across the state. The center is collaborating with the CAL FIRE Fresno-Kings (FKU) unit to operate the crew, which is known as Mid Valley 1. Wildland hand crews help build fire line with hand tools and conduct mop-up work.

Forestry Corps: The Fresno Center operates a CCC Forestry Corps crew committed to improving California’s forest health. Corpsmembers are trained to remove and reduce overgrown and dead vegetation posing a potential fire risk. The Forestry Corps may also assist in tree planting, tree felling, and other arborist work and training.

Partnerships are developed and maintained with sponsoring agencies such as CAL FIRE, U.S. Forest Service, California State Parks, Department of Water Resources, Caltrans, and local non-profit land conservancies and councils.

Energy Corps Corpsmembers conduct energy surveys, lighting retrofits, solar installation, EV charging station installation and more throughout the Central Valley and across Northern California. Training opportunities are regularly provided at the CCC Sacramento Energy Center, which features a state-of-the-art energy lab for hands-on training and experience.

Another duty of the CCC is to respond to emergencies such as natural disaster relief, fires, and floods. Fresno Corpsmembers regularly provide support to wildland fire base camps from April to October. Assignments can be requested at any time and Corpsmembers may be required to work up to 21 straight days, working 16-hour days at assignments.

Education and Training

female corpsmember working on light fixture atop a ladder

A Fresno Energy Corpsmember works to retrofit an overhead light inside the administration building of a school in Rosamond, CA.

All Corpsmembers at the Fresno Center complete Corpsmember Orientation, Motivation, Education, and Training (COMET) and Core training courses. Corpsmembers without a high school diploma must work to finish their diploma while enrolled in the CCC. Other specialized trainings and certification opportunities include:

  • First Aid & CPR
  • Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Certificate
  • Chain Saw Training
  • Chipper Safety & Training
  • Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) 40-Hour Training
  • Construction & Trades
  • Leave No Trace
  • Power Tools Safety and Operation
  • Safety Stand Down
  • ServSafe Food Protection Certification
  • Small Engine Repair

Energy Corpsmembers receive specialized training and gain skills in basic electrical work. Corpsmembers may be sent to Sacramento to complete some of these courses in the state-of-the-art Sacramento Energy Lab.

  • Building Envelope
  • Cal-OSHA 10-Hour Safety Training for Construction
  • Electrical Concepts
  • Energy Audits
  • Energy Efficiency Basics & Data Collection for Energy Surveys
  • Energy Efficiency Fundamentals
  • First Aid & CPR
  • Introduction to Wiring and Lighting Retrofits
  • Ladder Safety
  • LED Technology Hands-on Training
  • Lighting Commissioning
  • Lighting Control Installation
  • Lighting I: Lighting Your Way
  • Lockout-Tagout
  • Maintenance Best Practice for Energy Efficient Facilities
  • Safety Stand Down
  • Scissor (Aerial) Lift
  • ServSafe Food Handler Certification