California Turns To Inmate Labor As Los Angeles Wildfires Spiral Out Of Control

As devastating wildfires continue to ravage Los Angeles, California has deployed nearly 800 inmates to support overwhelmed firefighting crews. The state’s Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation confirmed that these incarcerated individuals are working alongside over 7,500 firefighters to battle the massive blazes that have destroyed thousands of homes and scorched tens of thousands of acres.

Participants in the Fire Camp program are paid as little as $5.80 to $10.24 per day, plus an additional $1 per hour during emergency situations. While officials defend the program as voluntary, critics argue that this pay is exploitative, especially given the dangerous conditions inmates face. The disparity becomes more apparent when compared to professional firefighters, who can earn over $85,000 annually.

California has long used inmate labor to supplement firefighting efforts, a practice dating back to 1915. However, the worsening fire seasons, attributed to poor forest management and severe droughts, have made the state increasingly reliant on prison labor. Inmates are tasked with cutting firebreaks and removing dry brush to help slow the spread of the flames.

Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration promotes the program as a rehabilitative effort, offering participants the chance to reduce their sentences. Inmates can earn two days off their sentence for each day worked. Still, many former inmate firefighters struggle to find jobs in firefighting due to their criminal records, despite risking their lives on the front lines.

A 2022 report by the American Civil Liberties Union revealed the dangers inmates face in this program, noting that four incarcerated firefighters had been killed and over 1,000 injured within five years. Critics argue that inmates are enticed with sentence reductions but are ultimately exploited for high-risk labor with little support after release.

Currently, California operates 35 minimum-security fire camps where inmates receive just four days of training before being sent to active fire zones. These inmates do not use water hoses but instead rely on hand tools to combat the flames. Despite these life-threatening tasks, their compensation remains shockingly low.

As fires continue to engulf Los Angeles, California’s dependence on inmate labor exposes troubling questions about fairness, safety, and the exploitation of prisoners to manage preventable crises.