LOS ANGELES, CA – As Los Angeles suffers from thousands of acres ablaze this week, nearly 400 prisoners are being used to fight at the front lines, risking their lives.
According to the Guardian, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) confirmed it has “deployed 395 imprisoned firefighters.”
It has also been estimated by the Guardian that the crews of the CDCR firefighters have accounted for nearly 30 percent of the state’s firefighting force at times, leading to ethical concerns about the use of such individuals to battle these blazes.
Additionally, CDCR firefighters only earn between $5.80 to $10.24 a day, and an additional $1 per hour if they are responding to active emergencies, such as the active Palisades, Kenneth, Hurst, Eaton and other fires, based on the Guardian’s reporting.
The Guardian also explains the CDCR operates over 30 “fire camps,” also known as conservation camps, across the state that are considered minimum-security facilities, and this is where the incarcerated firefighters are trained and help authorities respond to the blazes.
Speaking to the work of these firefighters, Jeff Macomber, CDCR secretary, said in a statement Wednesday, “The work of our incarcerated firefighters and staff is an essential part of this effort, and their commitment to protecting lives and property during these emergencies cannot be overstated,” according to the Guardian.
In speaking to the work of the CDCR firefighters, Amika Mota, an advocate who served with the fire camps from 2012 to 2015 while incarcerated said, “It’s horrific to see what’s unfolding, but I know the firefighters inside have a desire to take part and are walking into these horrible conditions proud to be there.”
However, Mota continues in the Guardian, “We’re doing this heroic, crucial work, but many people inside cannot support their family, can barely afford to just get hygiene for themselves. Nobody is saving money with wages for when you go home.”
In terms of who qualifies to be a CDCR firefighter, the Guardian states that “participants must have eight years or less on their sentence, and some convictions, including sex offenses and arson, are disqualifying.”
Additionally, the Guardian notes many former CDCR firefighters have had trouble being hired in new firefighting jobs after their release, despite their extensive work history and training in the fire camps.
Mota added, “We always had this reputation on the fire ground of being the ones who did the dirtiest work, the hardest work, got there the earliest, stayed there the longest. There was a lot of respect we’d get from other fire crews. But that also takes its toll.”
I have two friends who lost homes, so far that I know of – but pretty much everyone I’ve talked to knows someone who lost a home, which goes to the unfathomable extent of these fires, which are uncontained, and some of the hydrants have run out of water. Fire budget was cut $17-25 million over previous years (out of $800+ million) and fire chief warned they were stressed specifically for training to fight wildfires. The mayor had this to say:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a09Pz194Pm4
Krystal Ball, a very far left commentator, said this one-minute non-interview was ‘the worst political failure I have ever seen’.
” . . . some convictions, including sex offenses and arson, are disqualifying.”
Good to hear.
That attempted interview was devastating to Mayor Bass. She was on a junket to Africa while L.A. burned. She needs to resign and take Newsom with her.
This really has nothing to do with this article
Alan, I have a friend too that lost their home in the Pacific Palisades. A younger couple with two young children.
They’re totally devestated.
Not worth arguing about, especially now, but these kinds of blanket policies are both shortsighted and dumb. There is a reason why they have security classifications which is based on actual conduct while incarcerated rather than preconceived perceptions. It’s all political to placate the public rather than based on any sort of evidence based practices.
“preconceived perceptions”?
Not perceptions at all if that’s what they’re incarcerated for.
For example, I would not anticipate putting a person from a level four yard on a fire line. But level one or two, sure? What you are incarcerated for is only part of the equation. For example, I work with a number of people who were convicted (some of them imo, wrongly so) for sex offenses. There is no reason not to have them go on a fire line. But they can’t because of these rules.