Incarcerated Firefighters Play Key Role in Battling Los Angeles Wildfires

Over 1,100 inmates are risking their lives for minimal pay while calls grow for fairer compensation and recognition.

Incarcerated firefighters in California earn $5.80 to $10.24 per day, with an additional $1 per hour during emergencies, far below non-incarcerated firefighter wages.
More than 1,100 inmate firefighters are actively assisting in the Eaton and Palisades wildfires, which have claimed at least 25 lives and destroyed thousands of homes.
A proposed bill in California seeks to raise inmate firefighter pay to match the lowest wage of non-incarcerated firefighters during active fire responses.
Inmates see the firefighting program as a chance for redemption, skill-building, and sentence reduction, with some pursuing firefighting careers post-release despite barriers.
The program has drawn both praise for its rehabilitative impact and criticism for the low wages, with public figures like Kim Kardashian advocating for better compensation.