California Assemblyman Isaac Bryan has introduced legislation to increase pay for incarcerated individuals battling wildfires across the state. Incarcerated firefighters currently earn between $5.80 and $10.24 per day, with an additional $1 per hour during active emergencies, as reported by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR). For a 24-hour emergency shift, pay starts at $29.80, followed by a mandatory 24-hour rest period.
Bryan emphasized the critical role these individuals play, stating, “Incarcerated firefighters are on the front lines saving lives. They are heroes just like everybody else on the front lines, and they deserve to be paid like it.” CDCR data shows that 1,116 incarcerated firefighters have been actively engaged in combating the Los Angeles wildfires.
The issue has gained broader attention, with reality TV star Kim Kardashian urging Governor Gavin Newsom to increase their pay. Kardashian highlighted that the compensation rates have remained unchanged since 1984. On social media, she called for reforms, stating that incarcerated individuals risking their lives deserve recognition and fair wages.
Historically, incarcerated individuals have comprised up to 30% of California’s wildfire response force. These positions are sought after within the prison system due to the opportunity to work outside traditional prison settings, gain valuable training, and earn reduced sentences. Participants receive two days off their sentence for every day served on a fire crew.
Proposition 6, a measure to ban involuntary servitude for incarcerated individuals, was rejected by California voters in November. Critics argue that the current system disproportionately benefits from low-cost labor while failing to adequately compensate those risking their lives.
Bryan’s proposed legislation seeks to address these disparities and recognize the contributions of incarcerated firefighters by providing fairer wages for their life-saving efforts.