More than 900 incarcerated individuals are among the 7,500-plus personnel currently working to fight the devastating wildfires in Southern California. These fires have already ravaged homes, businesses, and landmarks across Los Angeles.
On January 10, 2025, a firefighting helicopter was seen dumping water on the Palisades Fire, which was heading toward the Mandeville Canyon neighborhood in Los Angeles.
As of Friday, California’s Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation confirmed that 939 Fire Camp firefighters have been working nonstop to cut fire lines and remove fuel from around structures in an effort to slow the fire’s spread. They’re being supported by 110 staff members.
This isn’t a new approach—California has been using incarcerated firefighters since 1915. In fact, using prison labor in emergencies and disasters has been a long-standing practice across the U.S., according to Bianca Tylek, executive director of Worth Rises, a criminal justice advocacy organization.
California’s Department of Corrections notes that these firefighters are volunteering for the program and are paid between $5.80 and $10.24 per day. They can earn more during emergencies or other special circumstances.
While the practice is controversial, it plays a crucial role in filling staffing gaps, especially as California braces for increasingly destructive fire seasons due to climate change. On the first full day of the current wildfires, LA crews were battling five major fires simultaneously, stretching the county’s resources thin, as noted by LA County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone.
California is one of over a dozen states that runs conservation camps, often called fire camps, where incarcerated individuals are trained to fight fires and help with other disasters.
The fire crews are made up of incarcerated volunteers who are physically and mentally fit, have shown good behavior, and follow the rules. They also need to have no more than eight years left on their sentences. When they’re not out fighting wildfires, they assist with floods and other emergencies. In between, they often do community service in the areas surrounding their camps, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
The program started in 1915, but it really expanded during World War II when many forestry workers went off to fight. To fill the gap, incarcerated people were brought in, and 41 fire camps were set up. Today, there are 35 of these camps across California, all of which are minimum-security.
