As inmates continue to fight fires for mere dollars a day, several people are calling for them to receive much higher compensation.
As the BBC reported, there are nearly 1,000 incarcerated people helping to fight the devastating blaze. Sadly, some outlets estimate that these individuals make roughly $20 a day, though some values are much lower. As if the extremely small pay is not harsh enough, many of these inmates are sharing the tumultuous conditions on the frontlines. Capital and Main reporter Jeremy Lindenfeld spoke with several of these incarcerated firefighters about this.
“Today I was granted access to speak with incarcerated firefighters. They told me: they hadn’t showered in 5 days, they were not provided regular meals, they were working 24 hours in a row [and] they feel under-appreciated and underpaid,” he wrote.
Today I was granted access to speak with incarcerated firefighters.
They told me:
– they hadn’t showered in 5 days
– they were not provided regularly meals
– they were working 24 hours in a row
– they feel under appreciated and underpaid— Jeremy Lindenfeld (@jeremotographs) January 11, 2025
Nevertheless, they remain committed to helping, with Lindenfield adding, “They also said they all wanted to be there & that they see the work as an important way to give back to the community.”
Kim Kardashian is joining the call for these firefighters to be paid more money.
“The incarcerated firefighters have been paid $1/hour to risk their lives, and this pay has been the same since 1984. It has never been raised with inflation. It’s never been raised when fires got worse and many died,” she wrote on Instagram before urging California Governor Gavin Newsom to “raise the incarcerated firefighter pay to a rate that honors a human being risking their life to save our lives and homes.”
Rapper Blueface’s mother, Karlissa, took a much different and offensive stance on the matter. While streaming live on Instagram, one fan asked if her famous son, who is incarcerated in California, was helping assist with the fires. However, Karlissa stated that the “Thotiana” star was too wealthy for such a task.
“They don’t make rich n***as go fight fires in jail, ma’am. They might make your son fight the fire, though. Not mine,” she declared.
Despite the varying points of view, all firefighters should be viewed as heroes, considering the tireless work they are doing within the community.
Seeing all these posts about inmates serving as firefighters (to work off debt???) is a big reminder that voters in California voted against a measure to ban forced prison labor in November.
— Loading… (@KirkWrites79) January 12, 2025
Only + I see from googling about the CA inmate firefighters is that they can request that their records be expunged & they can become firefighters when released
I’m sure it boosts some of their morale bc of what they are doing— Mekia (@Miss_Mekia) January 10, 2025
