Nearly 800 incarcerated people have been deployed as firefighters to help quell the severe wildfires across Southern California, The Guardian reports.
According to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), roughly 783 incarcerated firefighters had been deployed as of Thursday (January 9) to battle the Los Angeles-area wildfires that have left at least five people dead and thousands of buildings burned down.
The incarcerated crews are working with the nearly 2000 firefighters from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire), stretched thin as Los Angeles County fights multiple wildfires fueled by extreme winds and dry weather conditions.
California has previously relied on incarcerated people for its emergency response to wildfires and other natural disasters. The incarcerated firefighters are trained at “fire camps” operated by the CDCR across the state. Participants have eight or fewer years on their sentence and are disqualified by certain convictions, including sex offenses and arson. Fire camps, also known as conservation camps, are considered minimum-security facilities and house more than 1,800 incarcerated firefighters statewide.
CDCR firefighters earn between $5.80 and $10.24 a day and an additional $1 per hour when responding to active emergencies. In some cases of disaster, incarcerated crews may earn $26.90 over a 24-hour shift.
“Wildfires are a constant and formidable challenge for California, and CDCR conservation fire camps remain dedicated to supporting the state’s response,” Jeff Macomber, CDCR secretary, said in a statement. “The work of our incarcerated firefighters and staff is an essential part of this effort, and their commitment to protecting lives and property during these emergencies cannot be overstated.”
Watch the videos below for more information about the incarcerated firefighters.
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