Wildfires continue to destroy Los Angeles. Its now up to hundreds of prison inmates to help slow the spread
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Inmate firefighters make around $27 for a 24-hour shift. At present, inmates are believed to make up approximately 30 percent of the state’s firefighting force, according to the Los Angeles Times. “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.”.
![[A firefighter works as the Palisades Fire burns a house in the hill next to the Getty Villa. About 30 percent of the state’s firefighting force comes from prison inmates, according to reports]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/09/10/08-51e96eac47434d51a8199b18fc093223.jpg)
The arrangements is about as consensual as an agreement between a jailer and a prisoner can get; no inmates are forced to join the firefighting crews, and all who join do so of their own free will. Any inmates who want to join must meet the program’s qualifications, which take into account physical ability as well as their behavioral record behind bars.
![[While some have spoken out against the program, using prisoners as labor is actually protected in the 13th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/09/14/California_Wildfires_Photo_Gallery_79120.jpg)
For example, participants must have eight years or less on their sentence, and certain convictions — such as sex offenses or arsons — disqualify them from participation. The inmates are paid, though it’s a pitifully small amount — approximately $27 for an entire 24-hour shift. They’re also provided food in the form of sandwiches and fruit.
Inmate firefighters are trained at one of the state Department of Corrections’ more than 30 “fire camps,” which are essentially minimum security prison camps doubling as firefighter schools. The camps are commonly referred to as Conservation Camps.
