Deployment and Duties
Over 1,100 incarcerated individuals from 's fire camps have been deployed to combat the devastating Palisades and Eaton fires in , performing essential firefighting duties alongside professional firefighters.
Their tasks include containment work, structure defense, and removing dry vegetation, working grueling 12- or 24-hour shifts in perilous conditions to help slow the spread of the infernos.
Program Criticism and Support
The program has faced scrutiny for its meager pay, lack of basic labor protections, and the reliance on prison labor, with wages ranging from $5.80 to $10.24 daily, plus $1 an hour during emergencies.
Despite the criticisms, participants express gratitude for the opportunity, citing meaningful training, the chance to contribute to the community, and the hope of pursuing a firefighting career post-release.