Nearly 400 prisoners are helping during LA wildfires but it’s left some major questions
Rhiannon Ingle
Featured Image Credit: DAVID SWANSON/AFP via Getty Images/David McNew/Getty Images
Nearly 400 prisoners have been enlisted to helping during the wildfires sweeping across Los Angeles as the death toll rises to 10.
California, which is is one of 14 states that uses inmates to help fight fires, has seen 14,000 emergency responders working to bring the destruction to a halt.
The Los Angeles Times reports that inmates are currently believed to make up approximately 30 percent of the state’s firefighting force.
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"Wildfires are a constant and formidable challenge for California, and CDCR conservation fire camps remain dedicated to supporting the state’s response," Jeff Macomber, secretary of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, said in a statement this week.
"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."
Any inmates wanting to join have to meet certain qualifications, including having eight years or less on their sentence.
Additionally, inmates with certain convictions - including sex offences or arson - are disqualified from participation.
None of the prisoners are forced to join the firefighting crews, and all do so of their own volition.
They are paid approximately $27 for an entire 24-hour shift - which works out about $1.12 dollars an hour - as well as being provided with food like sandwiches and fruit during the day.
After catching light of the news, people rushed to social media to share their thoughts with one X user hitting out: "The wages are unfair."
"They being paid tooo small," echoed a second while a third declared: "$10 a day is insane."
While this $10 figure isn't accurate, it's not ridiculously far-off the $27 dollars the inmates are in fact paid for a day's work.
Another pointed out: "What if they disappear in the smoke never to be seen again?"
And a final X user added: "It’s bittersweet to see prisoners risking their lives for such low wages. This raises questions about justice and fairness.
"If they can be trusted with saving homes and lives, shouldn’t they also be trusted with greater opportunities once they’re free?"
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation reports that 395 imprisoned firefighters have been deployed to 29 crews fighting the Palisades Fire.
The two biggest wildfires ravaging the Los Angeles area have killed at least 10 people now and burned more than 10,000 homes and other structures, officials said as they urged more people to heed evacuation orders after a new blaze ignited and quickly grew.
Tyla has contacted the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for comment.