California Relies on Inmate Firefighters as Wildfires Devastate Los Angeles

Prisoners make up nearly 30% of the firefighting force, raising ethical concerns over low wages and safety risks.

Nearly 950 prison inmates are assisting in combating wildfires in Los Angeles, which have burned 40,000 acres and destroyed over 12,000 structures.
Inmates, trained through California's Conservation Camps, earn as little as $1 per hour for dangerous firefighting work, sparking criticism from prison reform advocates.
The Palisades Fire, the largest of the blazes, remains only 13% contained, with high winds and dry conditions complicating efforts to control its spread.
California has used inmate firefighters since 1915, and recent reforms aim to provide participants with job opportunities and record expungement post-release.
The wildfires have killed 24 people, left 16 missing, and forced over 100,000 residents to evacuate, marking one of the most destructive natural disasters in Los Angeles' history.