Hundreds of incarcerated firefighters are battling the Los Angeles wildfires, earning between $5.80 and $10.24 per day, amidst historical levels of destruction and resource strain.
Despite criticisms of exploitation, some former incarcerated individuals find rewards in participating in firefighting initiatives, reflecting on the value of the experience and skills gained.
L.A. County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone emphasized that existing firefighter resources, including 9,000 local firefighters, are inadequate for the scale of the current wildfires.
The CDCR has allowed opt-in participation for low-level offenders in firefighting since the 1940s, with training provided at minimum-security fire camps over a span of eight days.
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