01-12-2025, 6:20 PM

Hundreds of California inmates helping fight fires on the front lines

Wildfires in Los Angeles / Video Screenshot

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation reports that 931 convicts are presently working around the clock to halt the spread of California's disastrous wildfires by cutting fire lines and clearing fuel from behind structures.

The group comprises 114 jailed persons who serve as support personnel, according to the agency.

According to the department's information page, participants are paid between $5.80 and $10.24 per day based on ability level, with an extra $1 per hour from Cal Fire when assigned to an active incident.

Most of them earn 2-for-1 credits, which means they get two days off their sentence for every day they labor. Support personnel get credits at a 1:1 ratio.

“Wildfires are a constant and formidable challenge for California, and CDCR conservation fire camps remain dedicated to supporting the state’s response,” said California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Secretary Jeff Macomber.

 “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.”

Participants who finish the program can have their records expunged, and many past participants go on to work with Cal Fire, the United States Forest Service, and interagency hotshot crews, according to the department.

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