
As massive wildfires rage across Los Angeles, California officials have turned to prison labor to bolster firefighting efforts. Nearly 800 inmates from the state’s Fire Camp program have been dispatched to the front lines, working alongside more than 7,500 professional firefighters to battle the destructive blazes that have already consumed thousands of structures and scorched tens of thousands of acres.
Inmates participating in this program earn between $5.80 and $10.24 per day, plus an additional $1 per hour during emergencies. While state officials argue the program is voluntary, critics argue that the compensation is far too low for the life-threatening work these individuals perform. The stark wage disparity compared to professional firefighters — who can earn upwards of $85,000 annually — has reignited concerns about the exploitation of prison labor.
California’s reliance on incarcerated individuals for firefighting dates back over a century. Today, the state operates 35 minimum-security fire camps, where inmates receive limited training before being sent to combat wildfires. These prisoners are tasked with creating firebreaks and clearing vegetation to slow the spread of flames, often under extreme and hazardous conditions.
BENT NEWS : Gavin Newscum makes nearly 1,000 prison inmates fighting fires in California.
Now 939 incarcerated men and women have joined the frontlines in a battle against record-breaking wildfires burning across southern California. pic.twitter.com/8uXrpYmWBg— Burner 🪶バーナー (@WagonnBurner) January 11, 2025
BREAKING: California is deploying hundreds of prison inmates to assist in battling the devastating wildfires raging through parts of Los Angeles, according to state corrections officials. pic.twitter.com/lxAQxswkTc
— Jesse Morgan (@Jesse_Morgan_) January 12, 2025
Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration promotes the program as a path to rehabilitation, offering inmates reduced sentences — two days off for every day worked. However, many former inmate firefighters have found it nearly impossible to secure firefighting jobs after release due to their criminal records, despite their frontline experience and specialized training.
And of course there's not just one labor market, there are labor markets for each skill. This story is from Oregon, where there are probably 3-5k wildfire firefighters and 300-500 are prisoners, but in California apparently this can be as high as 30-40%? pic.twitter.com/etdw6f2gs5
— tedks (@_tedks) November 10, 2024
Reports from advocacy groups like the American Civil Liberties Union have highlighted the dangers of the program. Over a five-year period, at least four incarcerated firefighters died and more than 1,000 were injured. Critics argue that the promise of early release pressures inmates into taking on dangerous work with minimal protections and support.
Nearly 800 prisoners have been deployed to battle raging wildfires ravaging Los Angeles. The University of Houston’s Carlee Purdum says conditions for these firefighters can often be unfair#Fire #Firefighters #USA #LA #WorldNews #ABCNews
📽️ ABC News Australia pic.twitter.com/YLljKRDLwE— 🔴 Wars and news 🛰️ (@EUFreeCitizen) January 12, 2025
With California facing longer and more destructive fire seasons, driven in part by forest mismanagement and drought, the state’s dependence on inmate labor continues to grow. Despite concerns over fairness and safety, officials defend the program as a critical resource for managing the state’s escalating wildfire crises.
As flames continue to threaten communities across Los Angeles, the use of prison labor in firefighting raises urgent questions about exploitation, safety, and whether California is adequately investing in long-term solutions to its wildfire problem.