Incarcerated Firefighters Are Battling the L.A. Wildfires

Why Incarcerated Firefighters Are Battling the L.A. Wildfires
As of Friday morning, 939 incarcerated firefighters have been working “around the clock cutting fire lines and removing fuel behind structures to slow fire spread,” CDCR told TIME in an emailed statement. This includes 110 members of a support staff helping the firefighters.
The Incarcerated Firefighters on the Frontlines of L.A. Wildfires
California’s incarcerated firefighters battle wildfires for minimal pay. WSJ’s Ben C. Solomon joins one crew on the Los Angeles fire line, showing their critical role in protecting communities.
Kim Kardashian Advocates for Incarcerated Firefighters Amid the California Wildfires
Aside from previously announced donations to those affected by the wildfires, Kardashian is calling on California Governor Gavin Newsom to raise incarcerated firefighters' wages "to a rate [that] honors a human being risking their life to save our lives and homes."
What is Conservation (Fire) Camp Program? California incarcerated firefighters program triggers criticism amid LA Wildfires
Although the Conservation (Fire) Camp Program provides critical support during wildfire season, it has faced significant criticism, especially for being exploitative in nature. California is one of 12 states that use incarcerated people to help fight fires.
Incarcerated Firefighters Battle California Blazes for Low Pay, Redemption
Roughly 30 percent of firefighters battling the California wildfires are incarcerated, earning time off their sentences and up to $26.90 per day.

California, Los Angeles

People Are Shocked To Learn Incarcerated Firefighters In California Are Being Paid As Little As $6 A Day
"It's really important that people remember they are people just like us and are doing a very important and dangerous job." ...
Kim Kardashian wants inmate firefighter raises. A California lawmaker agrees.
SACRAMENTO, California — As wildfires continue to scorch the Los Angeles area, a California state lawmaker is leading a push ...
Kim Kardashian calls for pay raise for incarcerated firefighters: 'I see them as heroes'
Kim Kardashian is calling for a pay raise for incarcerated firefighters, saying the "heroes" get "paid almost nothing" for ...
The Grio6d
How many of California’s incarcerated firefighters battling the wildfires are people of color?
As historic wildfires blaze a path of destruction across Los Angeles County in California, hundreds of incarcerated firefighters have been deployed to help battle the flames. Since the fires ...
‘We Need Everyone’: How Two Formerly Incarcerated Firefighters Are Building a Movement
This story originally published in 2022, but has been updated to reflect the recent fires ravaging neighborhoods across Los ...