Inmate firefighter. With wildfires raging, causing at least 10 deaths, burning down thousands of Feb 6, 2025 · California’s inmate-firefighters save the state millions of dollars battling wildfires, but face low pay and enhanced risks. Jan 13, 2025 · Hundreds of California inmates are fighting the Los Angeles fires. Jul 9, 2024 · The inmate workforce performs critical fuel-reduction projects year-round and are at times in the path of fires. Former inmate firefighter Amika Mota detailed her experiences as an incarcerated firefighter, stating that, “I spent two and a half years fighting wildland fires, responding to car crashes, and rushing to homes to extinguish blazes. Sometimes they even risk their lives. Jan 10, 2025 · California has turned to incarcerated firefighters since 1915. GDC fire stations service portable fire extinguishers for all facilities. in 2013. Many former camp firefighters go on to gain employment with CAL FIRE, the United States Forest Service and interagency hotshot crews. Gavin Newsom signed legislation Friday that allows inmate firefighters who are on the front lines to become professional firefighters after they are released from prison. Jan 31, 2025 · Inmate firefighting can trace its legacy to the practice of enslaved firefighting. Here's how much they get paid The role of inmate firefighters is in the spotlight as crews continue to battle the blazes in Jan 9, 2025 · Hundreds of California inmates are helping battle the LA wildfires. Even some youth offenders from the Lode have joined the battle. They are Arcadia 20, or ARC 20, an Sep 15, 2020 · Culture & Society Disaster Work Is Often Carried Out By Prisoners – For As Little As 14 Cents An Hour A Texas A&M social scientist says incarcerated workers play a large role in disaster response, from making sandbags to helping contain wildfires. After fires, SWIFT crews perform reclamation work that includes Oct 31, 2019 · As multiple fires rage across California, the role firefighting inmates play is coming under renewed scrutiny. Among the thousands of boots on the ground battling the wildfires in Los Angeles are hundreds of incarcerated individuals — a fact that has renewed attention on California's longstanding, but Jan 13, 2025 · According to reports, nearly 1,000 California incarcerated firefighters are currently fighting wildfires in the state. Make them employees Inmate firefighters work at the Sunset fire in Hollywood on Jan. High Country News spoke with Sep 1, 2022 · Since World War II, California has relied on a unique group of firefighters to battle its conflagrations: inmates. Despite the cost savings and expanded response capabilities, the program is met with mixed reactions. In 2017, Morales accepted an inmate firefighter position at Pleasant Valley State Prison (PVSP). The history of enslaved firefighters offers a cautionary tale about the dangers of relying on involuntary May 31, 2025 · Introduced by California Democratic Reps. Sep 11, 2020 · The number of inmate firefighters is down nearly one-third this year compared to 2019, a corrections department spokesperson told the AP last month. CAL FIRE, California Conservation Corps (CCC), and CDCR, in partnership with the Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC), developed an 18-month enhanced firefighter training and certification program at the Ventura Aug 9, 2018 · If viewing on the ABC10 app, tap here for multimedia. Despite their extensive training and heroic efforts in times of crisis, these men and Apr 24, 2022 · An inmate firefighter hand crew works during the Palisades Fire, in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, on October 21, 2019, in Los Angeles. Jun 4, 2021 · A new law to help inmate firefighters expunge their felony records is working, but it's slow and complicated even as we enter another wildfire season. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Jul 23, 2025 · An inmate firefighter with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation's Fenner Canyon Conservation Camp sets a backfire while battling the Mountain Fire in Moorpark, on Nov. Reforms for fair wages, safer conditions, and better pathways for post-release job opportunities are long overdue. Jan 14, 2025 · CNN’s Laura Coates speaks with Anthony Pedro, the founder of Future Fire Academy, about the crucial role that inmates of the prison system in California play in battling devastating wildfires. Jan 14, 2025 · Inmate firefighters responding to the ongoing Los Angeles fires and working 24-hour shifts are earning $26. Jan 13, 2025 · The Conservation (Fire) Camp Program, jointly run by California's corrections and fire departments, trains inmates to fight wildfires and respond to other emergencies. 90 per 24-hour shift, or just over $1 an hour. The Jul 26, 2023 · That risk of injury reflects the fact that incarcerated firefighters, like most incarcerated workers, receive limited training. Today, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the state forestry department and the Los Angeles County fire department operate 35 “fire camps” where inmates can become certified wildland firefighters. Gavin Newsom on Friday signed a bill allowing inmate firefighters to have their records expunged, clearing the path for them to be eligible for firefighting jobs upon release. May 28, 2025 · New federal bill seeks to support and protect inmate firefighters The FIRE Act would invest $20 million annually to expand safety protections, fair wages, and job training while creating a path to Oct 8, 2022 · Former Cal Fire Firefighter Anthony Pedro has launched a program to assist inmate firefighters pursue careers in the fire service. 7, 2024. When the fires engulfed Los Angeles and the Pacific Palisades this month, more than 1,000 incarcerated individuals volunteered to battle the fires. Jan 11, 2025 · Hundreds of incarcerated people are firefighting in Los Angeles. They are paid a maximum of $10. A Jan 13, 2025 · California’s century-old prisoner firefighter program is drawing fresh criticism as hundreds of incarcerated people have been deployed to fight the deadly wildfires in the Greater Los Angeles Jan 8, 2023 · Inmate firefighters have also been used to fight other risks. Jul 23, 2020 · Hundreds of California prison inmates fight wildfires every summer, but they cannot work as firefighters at city fire departments because their criminal records generally disqualify them from EMT Sep 29, 2024 · The state of California's utilization of inmates as volunteer firefighters is the most legitimate thing about Fire Country's premise. 8. Jan 24, 2025 · Sam Lewis of the Anti-Recidivism Coalition and an incarcerated firefighter share how California’s wildfire program provides skills, redemption, and career opportunities, while new reforms push Jan 13, 2025 · The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has deployed 931 incarcerated firefighters and 114 support staff through its Fire Camp Program. Who are the prisoners fighting California's wildfires? The incarcerated firefighter program is operated by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the California Department of Jan 20, 2025 · Inmates in the program also earn supplemental pay while responding to emergencies. Jan 12, 2025 · The Los Angeles-based Anti-Recidivism Coalition, a nonprofit dedicated to ending mass incarceration, started a fundraiser on Friday to support the fire crews of California’s prisons. Inmate firefighters earn Jan 11, 2025 · In California, incarcerated people become firefighters, but the low pay — and few job prospects when they're out — can make it a difficult choice. 24 a day, and receive an additional $1 for each hour that they battle the deadly blazes. Getty Images Kardashian’s statement went on, “The incarcerated firefighters have been paid $1/hour to risk their lives, and this pay Jan 15, 2025 · ‘Saving the community': COs, inmate firefighters detail what it means to fight the L. May 27, 2025 · This comes as over 1,000 incarcerated firefighters recently helped combat the January wildfires in Southern California, often for minimal pay and facing barriers to future employment in the field Sep 11, 2020 · California Gov. of Corrections. Jan 18, 2025 · California began training inmates to help fight wildfires during World War II, when many men were deployed overseas. Jan 12, 2025 · Inmate firefighters try to help contain the Palisades Fire. Here's how much they get paid The role of inmate firefighters is in the spotlight as crews continue to battle the blazes in Jan 22, 2025 · Key Takeaways California's inmate firefighter program saves the state millions in firefighting costs by paying incarcerated workers far below minimum wage. , a firefighter who lives in South Pasadena, California, served 18 years in prison, and for the last two was an incarcerated municipal firefighter. May 7, 2025 · Inmate firefighters say their criminal records make it hard to get a regular firefighting job once they're out. This bill would require the above-described inmate firefighters, in addition to receiving credits, to be paid an hourly wage equal to the lowest nonincarcerated firefighter in the state for the time that they are actively fighting a fire. 80 and Jan 16, 2025 · Incarcerated firefighters on the lower end of the pay scale currently earn around $30 a day during an active emergency. Jan 17, 2025 · Sal Almanza, an inmate firefighter battling the LA fires, is seen on camera with a correctional officer Lieutenant Manny Nunez. Jan 18, 2025 · Incarcerated firefighters currently battling the Eaton Fire and are stationed at a base camp at the Rose Bowl. Oct 16, 2017 · The inmate firefighter program, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, boasts one big statistic for the cash-strapped state: it saves taxpayers approximately Jan 11, 2025 · An incarcerated firefighter in Mill Creek, California in August 2024 Nearly 1,000 incarcerated men and women have joined the frontlines in a battle against record-breaking wildfires burning across Sep 25, 2024 · SACRAMENTO, California — A California state firefighter arrested on suspicion of arson last week started out in the state’s inmate firefighter program after a DUI felony, according to court Sep 25, 2024 · SACRAMENTO, California — A California state firefighter arrested on suspicion of arson last week started out in the state’s inmate firefighter program after a DUI felony, according to court Inmate firefighters responding to the ongoing Los Angeles fires and working 24-hour shifts are earning $26. Jan 10, 2025 · Hundreds of Californian prisoners have been deployed to help tackle the fires devastating the Los Angeles area. Supporters say the Offenders in the program receive training in hazardous materials, vehicle extrication, and structural fire control. Jul 9, 2024 · In 2005, at the peak of the inmate firefighter program, officially known as the Conservation (Fire) Camp Program, there were 192 crews, or 4,250 inmate firefighters, according to the state Working amid the camaraderie of the fireline, an inmate firefighter finds courage, a potential career focus, and the finest reward of fire work-- to be appreciated. AB 2147 allows former non-violent incarcerated people who participated on a conservation camp fire crew to have their records expunged. A. Up tp 30 percent of California's active firefighting workforce can be incarcerated people, making them a considerable factor in the state’s Jan 31, 2025 · And we, as inmate firefighters or incarcerated firefighters, are more exposed to smoke inhalation, and we're in the front lines, and so therefore those health issues affect us directly. Nov 6, 2024 · The Role of Inmates in Fire Service Programs According to the report, inmate firefighters in Georgia work without pay or benefits and remain under supervision throughout their service. Gavin Newsom’s plan to reduce the state’s prison population. Jul 26, 2023 · That risk of injury reflects the fact that incarcerated firefighters, like most incarcerated workers, receive limited training. Jul 9, 2024 · In 2005, at the peak of the inmate firefighter program, officially known as the Conservation (Fire) Camp Program, there were 192 crews, or 4,250 inmate firefighters, according to the state Hundreds of Californian prisoners have been deployed to help tackle the fires devastating the Los Angeles area. Jan 11, 2025 · More than 900 prison firefighters were responding to the crisis in Los Angeles — but their pay is low and the ethics of their choice are complicated. Oct 29, 2020 · Through rehabilitative programs, Morales earns state firefighter job When Jose Morales began serving a sentence in 2016, he discovered firefighting and the Firefighter Training and Reentry Program (FTRP). Cal Fire pays an additional $1 an hour, regardless of firefighters' skill level. As crews continue their battle, incarcerated firefighters part of a long-running state program are on the frontline. To those opposed to the use of inmates as firefighters, the system is seen as exploitative. Professional firefighters in California work three-year apprenticeships, but incarcerated firefighters are deployed with as little as three weeks of training. Aug 31, 2017 · By choice, for less than $2 an hour, the female inmate firefighters of California work their bodies to the breaking point. Inmate firefighters have been battling blazes in California since 1915, with California prisons and Cal Fire coming together around World War II to officially create the Conversation Camp Program. Sep 26, 2024 · A 38-year-old firefighter accused of setting multiple fires in Northern California had received firefighting training while serving a six-year state prison sentence for gross vehicular Jan 13, 2025 · Hundreds of California inmates are fighting the Los Angeles fires. Jul 18, 2024 · A nonprofit in California is aiming to remove roadblocks for previously incarcerated firefighters and expand the profession in the process. Oct 24, 2024 · The program allows certain inmates to become certified firefighters while serving their time behind bars and respond to calls in the community. fires More than 1,100 inmate firefighters and 138 CDCR staff members have been deployed to the Eaton and Palisades fires to help slow fire spread. In addition to fighting fires, Incarcerated crew members have an opportunity to serve the citizens of Colorado by performing critical fuel reduction work to prevent future fires. Incarcerated fire crew members earn between $5. Jan 13, 2025 · At the 35 camps operated across 25 California counties, inmates learn to respond to all types of emergencies such as fires, floods, and other natural or manmade disasters. Sydney Kamlager-Dove and Judy Chu, the new act would help fund job training, workplace and mentoring opportunities to ensure long-term employment for former inmate firefighters. The State Wildland Inmate Fire Team (SWIFT) was formed in 2001 to be a year-round resource for fighting wildfires throughout the State of Colorado. Jan 11, 2025 · Nearly 1,000 incarcerated firefighters are working to quell the blazes, as part of a long-standing program. Jan 14, 2025 · Eddie Herrera Jr. “I felt like it was a great Jan 10, 2025 · Inmate firefighters walk along Highway 120 during the Rim Fire near Yosemite National Park, Calif. Jan 14, 2025 · Using inmate labor to fight fires has been a practice in California since the 1940s. The Department of Jun 6, 2024 · The inmates of Washington state's prison system tramp through the forest, their yellow uniforms and helmets bright against the brown branches and green leaves. Jan 9, 2025 · Inmate labor Incarcerated firefighters have historically made up around a third of California’s firefighting force. Who are the prisoners fighting California's wildfires? The incarcerated firefighter program is operated by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the California Department of Sep 12, 2020 · California Gov. The mission of the Conservation Camp program is to "support state, local and federal Jan 9, 2025 · What is an inmate firefighter? In some form, inmate firefighters have been used in California since the end of World War II. Jan 16, 2025 · Incarcerated firefighters on the lower end of the pay scale currently earn around $30 a day during an active emergency. And when crews work a 24-hour Jul 27, 2021 · Dozens of current and former inmate firefighters, including Tapia, told me about the benefits of the program and how it changed their life. Sep 11, 2020 · California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a new law, AB2147, designed to make it easier for inmate firefighters to pursue careers in the field by streamlining the process to expunge their records. Mar 12, 2025 · Formerly incarcerated firefighters stood alongside advocates of Assembly Bill 247 on Tuesday, advocating for an increase in the hourly pay rates for inmate hand crews. Jan 9, 2025 · Why Is California’s Inmate Firefighting Program Controversial? California’s incarcerated firefighter program has some critics who largely oppose it as a form of prison labor, though some take Jan 21, 2025 · Incarcerated fire crews: A mutually beneficial solution Written by Avani Kongetira As wildfires rage through Los Angeles largely uncontained, people are fanning the flames of a different conversation in true Californian fashion, pointing to incarcerated firefighter camps as evidence of rampant exploitation in prisons and likening their circumstances to involuntary servitude, or even slavery. Incarcerated firefighters fight the Rim Fire in California in 2013 The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) runs 44 conservation camps (also called fire camps) jointly with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) and the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Read more about how the Conservation Camp Program supports the rehabilitation of incarcerated people in California. Prisoners who want to enter the Conservation Camp Program must meet security Jul 23, 2025 · California has used incarcerated firefighters since 1915 to battle wildfires. Offenders in the program receive training in hazardous materials, vehicle extrication, and structural fire control. California currently has about 400 inmate firefighters battling the LA county wildfires. Why don't we pay them, protect them and treat them like heroes? Jan 11, 2025 · More than 900 incarcerated firefighters were responding as of Friday to the fires in Southern California, according to California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation officials. Those who volunteer for the state’s inmate firefighters program are trained to carry out fire suppression efforts, including reducing vegetation that can fuel Jan 10, 2025 · Among the thousands of boots on the ground battling the wildfires in Los Angeles are hundreds of incarcerated individuals — a fact that has renewed attention on California’s longstanding, but… Jan 17, 2025 · LOS ANGELES - Hundreds of inmate firefighters joined the frontlines to help battle the massive and deadly wildfires in Southern California. For more information about the GDC Inmate Firefighter program, review our Fire Services and Life Safety Unit . Inmate firefighters have been helping the community firefighters from around the region combat raging California wildfires. 90 per day, according to the California Dept. Some have criticized the practice due to the low pay for the firefighters Jun 6, 2021 · California is set to close one of its main inmate firefighter training facilities as part of Gov. A new bill can smooth the way. The mission of the Conservation Camp program is to "support state, local and federal Jan 15, 2025 · California’s inmate firefighters deserve more than a raise. They’re a much smaller percentage of those on the ground in Los Angeles Apr 22, 2023 · Started by two formerly incarcerated firefighters in 2015 — there were some exceptions that allowed former inmates to work in the industry before AB 2147 passed — the program is a Jul 9, 2024 · The inmate workforce performs critical fuel-reduction projects year-round and are at times in the path of fires. Aug 30, 2020 · The Sunday Read: ‘In the Line of Fire’ For less than $2 an hour, California’s female inmate firefighters undertake grueling physical work and sometimes risk their lives. The state has leaned on inmates to provide additional fire-fighting Jan 22, 2025 · The fire danger in Southern California is far from over. With wildfires raging, causing at least 10 deaths, burning down thousands of Jan 11, 2025 · The incarcerated firefighters have been drawn from among the 35 conservation fire camps run by the state, minimum-security facilities where inmates serve their time and receive training. Some prisoner firefighters earn $26. Jan 17, 2025 · Talks of increasing pay for incarcerated firefighters come two months after California voters rejected Proposition 6, which would have banned involuntary servitude or forced labor in prison, where inmates are paid little to nothing. ixrlnid awcrzj wptdzt jbmabd azyl dpyup qgwef ujuyb bexhwy ewdheq