Prison Labor in the Spotlight as Incarcerated California Firefighters Risk Lives for $5-10/Day

Firefighting crews across Los Angeles are working tirelessly to contain the Palisades, Eaton, and other wildfires, with nearly 1,000 incarcerated firefighters among them. These individuals, who are crucial to combating the blazes, earn as little as $5.80 to $10.24 per day. The California incarcerated firefighter program has drawn attention for its low pay despite the demanding nature of the work. In a recent conversation with investigative journalist Keri Blakinger, who is formerly incarcerated herself, we learn more about the struggles and realities of these firefighters. Blakinger, who has reported extensively on criminal justice issues, provides insight into the program’s history, its current operations, and the challenges faced by those involved.

In California, over 30% of the wildfire response workforce has historically been made up of incarcerated individuals. While that number has declined in recent years, these firefighters remain a vital part of the state’s efforts to control devastating fires. They live in 35 fire camps across the state, undergoing intense training before being deployed to fire zones. Despite the grueling labor and minimal pay, many incarcerated firefighters value the sense of purpose and community they experience, along with the recognition they receive for their work.

Blakinger, who recently had to evacuate her home due to the fires, sheds light on the legal and economic factors that allow California to pay these firefighters so little, citing an exemption in the U.S. and California constitutions that allows involuntary servitude as punishment for a crime. While efforts to address this issue have been made, recent ballot measures to eliminate this exemption have not been successful.

For those incarcerated firefighters who are released, the possibility of continuing a career in firefighting has been complicated by their criminal records. Recent changes in state law provide a path for some nonviolent offenders to have their convictions expunged and pursue careers as firefighters once they are out of prison. 

This ongoing issue highlights the critical yet often overlooked role that incarcerated firefighters play in California’s wildfire response efforts, as well as the broader questions surrounding labor, justice, and rehabilitation in the state’s prison system.