The army of firefighters is fighting on a large scale Southern California wildfires This also includes employees who could otherwise remain safely behind bars.
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) has deployed approximately 400 prison inmates to fight the fire, the department said in a statement. GuardianThe prison's team of firefighters is paired with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) to assist approximately 2,000 firefighters.
CDCR did not immediately respond to CBS MoneyWatch's request for comment.
Incarcerated firefighters volunteer to participate in CDCR's Conservation (FIRE) Camp Program and are paid for their work. Participants support state, local and federal government agencies as they respond to natural disasters.
CDCR operates 35 so-called fire camps in 25 different California counties. Two of these camps are for imprisoned women. They are minimum-security facilities staffed by correctional personnel who monitor camp participants 24 hours a day.
Participation in the camps is voluntary, and those who join must be considered physically and mentally healthy. Additionally, they must not have more than eight years remaining on their sentence. Convictions for rape and other sexual crimes, as well as murder, arson, and certain other serious crimes, disqualify a prisoner from participation.
How much do incarcerated firefighters make?
The salaries of incarcerated firefighters depend on their skill level. They earn between $5.80 and $10.24 per day, according to cdcrWho pays their salaries. Wage levels double to $2.90 and $5.12 per day in 2023.
Inmates involved in the program also earn supplemental pay while responding to emergencies. Cal Fire pays an additional $1 per hour, regardless of the skill level of firefighters. And when crews work 24-hour shifts, followed by 24 hours of rest, the least skilled firefighter will earn $26.90 a day.
Additionally, camp participants earn time credit for their sentences. Specifically, most people earn two additional days off their sentence for every day served on the fire brigade.
According to CDCR, camp participants become eligible for employment with Cal Fire after completing their sentence, which many choose to pursue.
By Thursday afternoon, Fire More than 45 square miles in the Los Angeles area were scorched. According to officials, about 180,000 Los Angelenos were ordered to evacuate.