As wildfires rage across Los Angeles, nearly 1,000 state prisoners are moonlighting as firefighters on the frontlines, working alongside CAL FIRE personnel to battle the flames. These minimum-security inmates, participants in the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) Fire Camp Program, are playing a critical role in slowing the spread of fires in Southern California as they serve their sentences.
“CDCR Fire Camp Program firefighters are proud to be embedded with CAL FIRE personnel to protect lives, property, and natural resources in Southern California,” a CDCR spokesperson told Newsweek .
Why It Matters
California’s fire camps have a long history of responding to the state’s various natural disasters, including wildfires, mudslides and floods. These camps provide crucial support, particularly as California faces increasingly frequent and intense fire seasons. This year alone, incarcerated firefighters have helped combat fires threatening over 30,000 acres in Los Angeles County, where the Palisades Fire remains uncontained.
The work these firefighters perform is essential — and controversial. While participants volunteer for the job and earn between $5.80 and $10.24 per day with an additional $1 per hour during active emergencies, critics argue the compensation is unacceptably low considering the risks involved.
What To Know
California’s current wildfires that have consumed over 30,000 acres across Los Angeles this week. Fueled by the deadly combination of dry conditions, high temperatures and powerful Santa Ana winds, the largest and most destructive is the Palisades Fire, which has burned 17,234 acres and is less than 10 percent contained, according to CalFire. This fire has forced thousands of residents in Los Angeles County to evacuate as flames encroach on homes and infrastructure…