Nearly 1,000 men and women in prison are risking their lives fighting massive wildfires spreading across southern California, BBC reported. These prisoners are part of a long-running volunteer program led by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), with 939 of them currently working on the frontlines.
Since Tuesday, when the fires started spreading out of control in Los Angeles, the number of prisoner firefighters has steadily grown. So far, over 10,000 buildings have been destroyed, and about 37,000 acres have burned.
At least 11 people have died, and thousands of emergency workers, including firefighters, the National Guard, and even teams from Canada, are battling the flames.
BBC noted that five large wildfires are currently raging in the area, making it one of the costliest disasters in California’s history.
The prisoner firefighters are selected from 35 special camps run by the state, where minimum-security prisoners live and train. Two of these camps are for women. According to BBC, these prisoners make up almost half of the 1,870 inmates currently in the firefighting program. Wearing bright orange jumpsuits, they work alongside professional firefighters, cutting fire lines and clearing vegetation to stop the fires from spreading.
While the program dates back to 1946 and offers inmates a chance to help in emergencies, BBC explained that it has drawn mixed reactions. Critics argue it’s unfair because the prisoners are paid very little—between $5.80 and $10.24 per day, plus $1 more during active firefighting missions. This is far less than the salaries of professional firefighters, who can earn over $100,000 a year.
Royal Ramey, a former prisoner firefighter who now runs a non-profit to help ex-inmates, told BBC, “It feels like cheap labor, and if you die while fighting fires, you don’t get any recognition or benefits.”
Despite the low pay, Ramey said the program is still better than regular prison life. The camps are less crowded, the food is better, and participants can earn time credits to reduce their sentences, BBC added. However, not all inmates can join—only those convicted of non-violent crimes are eligible.
After leaving prison, many of these trained firefighters struggle to find jobs in the firefighting industry. BBC quoted Ramey saying that people often have a bias against ex-prisoners, viewing firefighters as clean-cut heroes, not former inmates.
That’s why he started his non-profit organization to help these ex-inmates find jobs and address California’s long-standing firefighter shortage.
As the fires continue to spread, over 7,500 emergency workers, including firefighters and the National Guard, are on the scene.
According to BBC, the situation remains critical with 35,000 acres already burned by the two largest fires, Palisades and Eaton.
Credit : BBC
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3rwdjwglx2o