 |
| An incarcerated firefighter works to contain a wildfire in Mill Creek, California, in August 2024. |
Nearly 1,000 incarcerated individuals are on the frontlines fighting record-breaking wildfires raging across Southern California.
Currently, 939 inmates have been deployed as part of a long-standing volunteer program led by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR). Their numbers have steadily increased since Tuesday when the fires began to spread uncontrollably across Los Angeles.
The wildfires have caused widespread devastation, destroying more than 10,000 structures and burning 37,000 acres. As the fires continue, thousands of emergency personnel have flooded into the area to assist in containment efforts. At least 11 people have lost their lives, officials report.
The incarcerated firefighters are drawn from 35 conservation fire camps, which are minimum-security facilities where inmates are trained to fight fires. Two of these camps are specifically for women. The 900-plus inmates currently deployed account for roughly half of the 1,870 prisoners involved in the program.
In the field, these incarcerated firefighters are seen working alongside the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire), dressed in their prison-orange jumpsuits. Their tasks include cutting fire lines and removing debris to prevent the fires from spreading further, CDCR said in an emailed statement to the BBC.
The program, which dates back to 1946, has generated controversy. Critics argue it exploits incarcerated individuals, while supporters claim it serves a rehabilitative purpose. Inmates are paid between $5.80 and $10.24 per day, with an additional $1 for each day they are assigned to an emergency. This wage is a fraction of what civilian firefighters earn, who can make over $100,000 annually in California.
Royal Ramey, a former incarcerated firefighter and co-founder of the Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program (FFRP), shared with the BBC that the pay is far too low, describing it as "cheap labor." He also noted that if an inmate firefighter dies while on the job, they are not entitled to benefits or recognition as a wildland firefighter. Despite the low wages, Ramey acknowledged that working in the conservation camps offers better living conditions than in California’s notoriously overcrowded and dangerous prisons.
Participants in the program also earn time credits that help reduce their sentences. However, those convicted of "serious" or "violent" felonies are ineligible for the program.
After their release, many former incarcerated firefighters try to transition into civilian firefighting jobs, but often face significant barriers. Ramey explained that ex-inmates are stigmatized, with the public typically associating firefighting with "clean-cut heroes," not people with criminal pasts. This led Ramey to launch his nonprofit organization, which works to help former prisoners find work as firefighters and address California's ongoing firefighter shortage.
As of now, five major wildfires continue to devastate the Los Angeles area, potentially becoming one of the costliest wildfire seasons in history. With resources stretched thin, the state has called in over 7,500 emergency responders, including personnel from the National Guard and other regions, such as Canada. Despite these efforts, the fires remain difficult to control, with two of the largest fires—Palisades and Eaton—already consuming 35,000 acres.
0 Comments