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On Thursday, January 9, 2025, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) confirmed to ABC7 that nearly 800 state prisoners had joined the firefighters to help them battle the LA wildfires. A tweet posted by @DailyLoud earlier the same day shared the news on social media, which has since gone viral. The post received over 118K views and 4K likes within hours.
In response to the news, netizens shared mixed reactions as some questioned whether the prisoners had the option to make a choice of their own in such a situation. One X user wrote:
"Do they have a choice?"
Some netizens called the tweet "bittersweet," claiming that it raised questions about justice at a larger scale.
"It’s bittersweet to see prisoners risking their lives for such low wages. This raises questions about justice and fairness. If they can be trusted with saving homes and lives, shouldn’t they also be trusted with greater opportunities once they’re free," commented an X user.
"Damn how big is this fire that they had to get help from incarcerated fellas? or is this the fire mentioned in the bible where all sinners will be burnt? Hell fire," posted a second one.
Others online pointed out that the pay scale the prisoners were offered for such a challenging and dangerous task was low. They also added that this should not be an opportunity that possibly leads to some of them attempting to escape.
"Should be at least $50 a day. How the hell cheap put on this type of labor it should be the encouragement to do the Job properly & not attempt to escape," wrote a third netizen.
"Fighting flames for $1 an hour? The pay raises questions about exploitation vs. opportunity. Is this fair?" added a fourth one.
"They need to knock time off that sentence instead of paying them," replied a fifth user.
Meanwhile, other netizens appeared to support the concept, claiming that everybody should attempt to make a difference in difficult situations like that.
"I support this idea. The residents and the community as a whole will undoubtedly welcome any assistance at this point in time," wrote a sixth X user.
"Your actions remind us that everyone has the power to contribute, to serve, and to make a difference," commented a seventh one.
Prisoners have voluntarily signed up for the Conservation (Fire) Camps program
Per ABC7 News, the prisoners who have joined California's firefighters in battling the LA wildfires have voluntarily signed up for the Conversation (Fire) Camps Program.
They are now embedded in the Cal Fire and are being paid between $5.8-10.24 per day. The prisoners who are responding to active emergencies are paid an additional $ 1 for an hour. CDCR said in a statement:
"CDCR Fire Camp Program firefighters are proud to be embedded with CAL FIRE personnel to protect lives, property, and natural resources in Southern California."
According to the news outlet, the CDCR Fire Camp Program operates 35 facilities across 25 Californian counties. Two of these camps are specifically designated for women prisoners.
On Thursday, January 9, 2025, the CDCR deployed 783 prisoners who volunteered for firefighting, helping nearly 2,000 firefighters in the Cal Fire fight multiple out-of-control wildfires, as per The Guardian.
Jeff Macomber, the secretary of CDCR, issued a statement on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, saying:
"Wildfires are a constant and formidable challenge for California, and CDCR conservation fire camps remain dedicated to supporting the state’s response. 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."
The Los Angeles wildfires began on January 7, 2025, and have caused widespread destruction. The largest of these fires, the Palisades Fire, has scorched over 19,000 acres, while the Eaton Fire has spread across over 10,000 acres, as per ABC7. As per the latest reports by CNN, at least 10 people have lost their lives.
