May 9, 2025 3:15 am
Full News

Fighting Fire and Stigma: California Inmates on the Frontlines

Nearly 1,000 incarcerated men and women are battling record-breaking wildfires in southern California, risking their lives as part of a volunteer program run by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR).

Currently, 939 inmates are deployed, marking a steady increase since the fires began spreading uncontrollably across Los Angeles. The wildfires have destroyed over 10,000 structures, burned 37,000 acres, and claimed at least 11 lives, drawing thousands of emergency workers to contain the crisis.

These inmate firefighters come from 35 conservation fire camps across the state, including two designated for women. The program, established in 1946, equips minimum-security inmates with firefighting skills. Inmates earn between $5.80 and $10.24 per day, with an additional $1 during active emergencies—a fraction of the $100,000 annual salaries earned by professional firefighters.

Critics argue that the program exploits cheap labor, while supporters highlight its rehabilitative potential. Royal Ramey, a former incarcerated firefighter and co-founder of the Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program, told the BBC, “You’re getting pennies compared to others, and if you die, there are no benefits or recognition.”

Despite the challenges, participants find the camps preferable to overcrowded prisons, offering better living conditions and the chance to earn sentence reductions. However, once released, many trained inmate firefighters face rejection when applying for civilian firefighting jobs due to stigma.

Ramey’s nonprofit aims to help formerly incarcerated firefighters overcome barriers to employment and address the state’s firefighter shortage. As California struggles to contain five massive wildfires, including the Palisades and Eaton fires, the contributions of inmate firefighters remain vital yet undervalued.

The program’s dual role as a life-saving force and a symbol of systemic inequities continues to spark debate, even as inmates risk everything to protect communities.

Related News
Manipur Finally Returns to Normalcy
Trump to Sign Order to Shut Down the U.S. Department of Education Today: White House
U.S. Federal Agency Recommends Sanctions on India’s RAW
Musk and Ramaswamy’s Defense of Foreign Worker Visas Ignites MAGA Backlash
Tensions Rise Between Trump, Elon Musk, and MAGA Supporters Over Immigration Policies
Iran Prepared for Long-Term War: IRGC
Related Posts
Trump Appoints Jeanine Pirro as Interim U.S. Attorney for D.C.
U.S. Consulate in Lahore Orders Staff to Take Shelter Amid Security Threats
Journalist Attacked with Bricks by Miscreants in Bangladesh
Alert in Rajasthan and Punjab: Police Leave Cancelled, Missiles Ready
India Launches Overnight Drone Strikes Across Pakistan; 25 Drones Shot Down
Biggest Stock Market Crash in a Decade Hits Bangladesh
More News

Iran Expands Military Drills to Include Fordow and Khondab Nuclear Sites

TEHRAN – Iran has expanded its military drills, dubbed Eqtedar (meaning “might” in Farsi), to cover two additional nuclear facilities in the west and center of the country, state media reported on January 12. The drills, which began last week and are set to continue until mid-March, involve the army and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard […]

US Defense Secretary to Visit Mexico Border on First Trip

On his first trip since taking office, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will visit the Mexico border on Monday (February 3). This move signals the Pentagon’s continued focus on border security under President Donald Trump’s administration, according to a report by British news agency Reuters. Trump has increasingly relied on the military to enforce his […]

Elon Musk Casts Doubt on Trump’s $500 Billion AI Project

On January 22, tech titan Elon Musk expressed skepticism about a $500 billion AI project announced by US President Donald Trump, claiming the promised investment funds were not actually available. This marked a rare instance of disagreement between Musk and Trump, with Musk having played a key role in the newly installed administration after contributing […]

Blinken and Sullivan’s Security Clearances Revoked

After the former U.S. president, former National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and former Secretary of State Antony Blinken have now had their security clearances revoked by Donald Trump. White House officials confirmed this information on Saturday (February 8), according to British news agency Reuters. The officials also stated that the security clearances of Biden-era Deputy […]

Zendaya Calms Robert Pattinson’s Nerves Over Intense Scene

In a recent interview, Robert Pattinson opened up about how his co-star Zendaya helped calm his nerves while filming a challenging scene for their upcoming film, The Drama. The film, directed by Kristoffer Borgli, follows a couple whose relationship takes an unexpected turn just before their wedding day. Pattinson shared that he became particularly stressed […]

Volker Turk: ‘Mob Justice is Not Acceptable at All,’ Says UN Human Rights High Commissioner.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said that mob justice is not acceptable in any way. Every crime must be investigated. In response to a question during a press conference at a hotel in the capital on Wednesday (October 30), UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk addressed the issue […]

Xavier Samuel and Sonal Sehgal Lead in “The Great Departure”

Xavier Samuel and Sonal Sehgal have been cast as the leads in The Great Departure, a film directed by Pierre Filmon, who was nominated for the Camera d’Or. The film is currently in post-production and was shot entirely in India. The script, written by Sehgal during the lockdown, was initially titled Travellers. The plot explores […]

TikTok Fined €530 Million by the European Union

The popular video-sharing platform TikTok has been fined €530 million (approximately $600 million) by the European Union for transferring EU citizens’ personal data to China. The platform has been accused of failing to safeguard this data from Chinese authorities. According to AFP from Dublin, an investigation by Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DPC) revealed that TikTok […]

Two Indian Soldiers Killed in Explosion in Jammu and Kashmir

At least two soldiers of the Indian military have been killed in an attack by pro-independence groups in India-administered Jammu and Kashmir. The soldiers lost their lives in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast carried out by separatist groups in the Akhnoor sector of Jammu and Kashmir. On Tuesday, the Indian Army shared this information […]

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Responds to Trump’s Threat with Counter Threat

The United States launched extensive airstrikes on various Houthi infrastructure targets in Yemen on Saturday night. During the attack, U.S. President Donald Trump issued a warning to Iran via his social media platform, Truth Social, urging them to stop supporting the Houthis. He stated that any continued support would have serious consequences. In response to […]