California has dispatched nearly 800 prisoners to complement the 7,500 personnel already combating the catastrophic wildfires raging around the greater Los Angeles area. In less than a week, the fires have destroyed thousands of residential and commercial structures and burned tens of thousands of acres of land. Among the firefighters, 783 are part of the Fire Camp program, alongside 88 support staff, according to California’s Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
According to Bianca Tylek, the executive director of Worth Rises, an anti-prison labor group, incarcerated firefighters in California have been contributing since 1915, and their participation extends to responding to various emergencies nationwide for decades. Critics like Tylek argue that using inmates as firefighters can be exploitative. However, the state corrections department clarifies that participation in the program is voluntary. Participants earn between $5.80 and $10.24 per day, with additional compensation in emergencies.
The controversial practice meets critical staffing needs, particularly as California faces prolonged and intense fire seasons due to brush and forestry mismanagement. On the first full day of the wildfires, multiple massive blazes quickly overwhelmed first responders.
California is among over a dozen states with conservation camps, known as fire camps, where incarcerated persons receive training to fight fires and address disasters. The program was expanded during World War II due to workforce shortages, establishing 41 camps. Currently, 35 minimum-security camps operate in California. Eligible participants are volunteers who demonstrate good behavior, have fewer than eight years remaining on their sentence, and are considered fit for the role.
Beyond firefighting, crews assist in flood responses and community service tasks. Prisoners in Fire Camp are not disciplined for opting out of the program, and they receive training in safety and first aid.
California voters rejected a ban on prisoner labor in a 2024 referendum.
Los Angeles County officials announced on Thursday that the Eaton Fire near Pasadena that started Tuesday night has burned more than 5,000 structures https://t.co/Eu0RDmaGsW pic.twitter.com/hMcY5FNHyF
— Bloomberg TV (@BloombergTV) January 10, 2025