More than 900 incarcerated individuals are among the 7,500 emergency personnel battling the wildfires ravaging parts of Los Angeles, California, the state’s Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) confirmed Friday.
A total of 939 inmate firefighters, supported by 110 additional personnel, are working tirelessly to cut fire lines and remove fuel from behind structures to slow the spread of the blazes. This practice, though long-standing in California, remains controversial and has been banned in several states, including Colorado, Vermont, and Tennessee.
Inmates participating in the fire camp program are paid between $5.80 and $10.24 per day, with additional compensation during emergencies. While the CDCR emphasizes that participation is voluntary and includes safety training, critics argue that the risks far outweigh the benefits. Incarcerated firefighters face significantly higher chances of injury, including smoke inhalation and broken bones, compared to professional firefighters.
The program’s critics also point to broader ethical concerns about prison labor. The Thirteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution prohibits slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime. Efforts to eliminate forced labor in California failed in November when voters rejected Proposition 6, which sought to amend the state constitution to bar compulsory prison labor.
Bianca Tylek, executive director of the criminal justice reform group Worth Rises, noted that while some inmates choose to participate in firefighting programs, the physical risks and low compensation highlight the inequities of the system.
As the wildfires continue to wreak havoc, with at least 11 civilian lives lost since the first blaze erupted in Pacific Palisades on Tuesday, the role of incarcerated firefighters remains a crucial yet contentious part of California’s emergency response strategy.
