California relies on incarcerated firefighters to combat wildfires, employing nearly 800 inmates who work with personnel to address the ongoing destructive effects of climate change.
Bianca Tylek critiques the use of prison labor in firefighting, labeling the system as exploitative while arguing that these workers are often paid minimal daily wages.
As wildfires grow increasingly severe, LA County's fire chief indicated that emergency services are stretched thin, highlighting the importance of all available personnel, including inmates.
With the program starting in 1915 and evolving through decades, California's reliance on prison labor reflects historical practices of using incarcerated individuals for disaster response.
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