Under legislation considered by state lawmakers, inmate firefighters living in California County and state jails will receive an hourly salary of up to $19.
Assembly bill 247 will increase the hourly wages of prison inmates allocated in active fire scenarios.
“They put themselves on the front line,” said D-Los Angeles, vice chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus, in a press conference Tuesday morning. “We thank them, we went to visit and tweets given the thoughts and prayers, but we have not paid fairly or impartially yet.”
More More than 1,100 prisoners In the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, groups that historically account for 30% of California wildfires helped fight the Palisades and Eaton fires. According to the department's website, they currently earn $5.80 to $10.24 per day.
Advocates, politicians and celebrities, including John Legend and Kim Kardashian, have called for higher salaries for inmate firefighters on the wildfire front.
Those who are imprisoned in state or county jails fighting the fire can reduce their sentences by earning one or two days of credit for daily work or training. They were trained and hired through the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Protection Fire Camp Program. There are 35 fire training camps across the state.
Bryan said that under the bill, paying these higher wages would cost states tens of millions of dollars a year, which could vary depending on the intensity of the fire season and labor demand.
California Sheriffs Association. Oppose the bill, saying it could put enormous financial pressure on counties that need to pay higher wages.
In a press conference Tuesday, former inmates spoke about their experience working and training with firefighters. They say their job is not just to fight fires, but also to deal with car accidents and medical emergencies.
“We worked in dangerous conditions for a long time, but we were paid inexpensively,” said former inmate firefighter Laquisha Johnson.
Adam Cain, another former inmate who worked in the California Forestry and Fire Department while incarcerated during the 2020 wildfire, said he suffered breathing difficulties due to wildfire smoke and “help everyone else survive” the traffic collision.
Cain said higher wages would help inmates pay for food and sanitation, repay compensation they deserve to be compensated by the victim and their families, or save money after being released.
“Whether you are imprisoned or not, people should be paid for their dedication,” he said.
The bill passed the Parliamentary Public Safety Committee with bipartisan support. It will go to the Parliament’s Appropriations Committee for consideration.
