Hundreds of California prison inmates battle wildfires while confronting stigma!
Nearly 1,000 incarcerated men and women have joined the frontlines in the fight against record-breaking wildfires ravaging Southern California.5
Currently, 939 incarcerated individuals are part of a long-standing volunteer program managed by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR). Their numbers have steadily grown since Tuesday when the deadly wildfires began spreading uncontrollably through Los Angeles.
So far, the fires have destroyed over 10,000 structures, burned 37,000 acres, and claimed at least 11 lives. Thousands of emergency workers, including firefighters and first responders, have been deployed to combat the flames.
The incarcerated firefighters are drawn from the 35 conservation fire camps run by the state—minimum-security facilities where inmates serve time and receive specialized training. Two of these camps are dedicated to incarcerated women.
Currently, the 939 individuals deployed make up roughly half of the 1,870 incarcerated firefighters enrolled in the program. In the field, they wear prison-orange jumpsuits and work alongside firefighters from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).
According to CDCR, the incarcerated firefighters have been working tirelessly, cutting fire lines and clearing brush to slow the spread of the flames.
The program, which dates back to 1946, has drawn both criticism and praise. Critics argue that it exploits cheap labor, while supporters highlight its rehabilitative potential.
Participants earn between $5.80 and $10.24 per day, with an additional $1 for active emergency assignments—wages that pale in comparison to the salaries of civilian firefighters, who can earn upwards of $100,000 annually. 2
"You’re just cheap labor," said Royal Ramey, a former incarcerated firefighter and co-founder of the non-profit Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program (FFRP). He noted that participants do not receive benefits if injured or killed in the line of duty, nor are they officially recognized as wildland firefighters.
However, Ramey also acknowledged that the program provides a better living environment compared to California’s overcrowded prisons, offering better food and a "park-like" atmosphere at the camps. Participants can also earn time credits to reduce their sentences.6
Despite receiving state training, many formerly incarcerated firefighters face significant barriers to securing firefighting jobs after their release, due to the stigma of their criminal records.
"When people think of firefighters, they think of a clean-cut hero—not someone who’s been incarcerated," Ramey said. His nonprofit works to help former inmates transition into firefighting careers and address California's firefighter shortage.
Currently, five major wildfires are burning through billions of dollars’ worth of property in the Los Angeles area. These fires, including the massive Palisades and Eaton blazes, have already scorched 35,000 acres and are predicted to be among the most expensive in history.
Strained for resources, California has deployed over 7,500 emergency personnel, including the National Guard and firefighters from as far as Canada, but containment remains a significant challenge as the fires continue to spread.777
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