L.A. wildfires expose the exploitation of incarcerated workers

Incarcerated firefighters make up 30% of the workforce battling the recent wildfires across Los Angeles, working under life-threatening conditions while earning just $10 a day. Despite these circumstances, many express gratitude for the opportunity to give back to the community through the Conservation (Fire) Camps Program, operated by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. 

However, this program is not reflective of the broader prison system, where thousands of incarcerated individuals are forced into labor for minimal pay and few benefits. From grueling working conditions to inadequate compensation, the criminal justice system has created a system of modern-day slavery for inmates. Instead, the prison system must be reformed to focus on rehabilitation rather than punishment, treating those on the path to self-development with fundamental human respect. 

When incarcerated firefighter Kimbo was interviewed by American streamer Hasan Piker about his experience, he said, “It’s way better [because] I was in the prison yard, I’m seeing guys get stabbed, get jumped, get beat up. The cops treat us like s**t.” He explained how the situation has improved, adding, “But here, we get better treatment, right? They talk to us like humans. We got a job. We’re underpaid, but we got a job.” 

This sentiment is common among incarcerated firefighters, who view this program as a way to escape the abusive carceral environment. 

In an interview with The Marshall Project, Eddie Herrera Jr., a formerly incarcerated firefighter, reflected on how his experience gave him purpose: “I felt a sense of pride, because I knew that I was not being defined by my circumstances.” These successes serve as a reminder of what truly benefits those incarcerated: opportunities that motivate them to get up each day with a sense of purpose.

Programs like these not only provide an emotional boost, but also allow inmates to shorten their sentences and become employed firefighters after their release through the Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program. However, neither option is guaranteed. Background checks and the difficult process of obtaining EMT certification — a requirement for many firefighting careers — can stand in the way.

The promised benefits, however, are not enough to justify the extremely demanding job of firefighting. While Los Angeles firefighters earn a starting salary of $85,315 and receive state benefits, incarcerated firefighters with the same responsibilities are paid just a few dollars an hour, with no benefits. This disparity underscores how undervalued their contributions are. 

Choosing between being locked in a cell or fighting on the front lines of a wildfire for the chance of a reduced sentence is not a fair choice. Incarcerated firefighters working 24-hour shifts for such little compensation is just one example of the financial exploitation of prisoners — there exists an obvious need for reform.

Many are worried about the financial costs that may incur from paying these workers fair wages. However, according to the American Civil Liberties Union, incarcerated workers in the U.S. produce more than $11 billion annually in goods and services. Despite this, prisons allocate less than 1% of their budgets to pay these workers, with most earning less than 74 cents an hour. Their labor is exploited for the benefit of corporations which prevents inmates from saving for their future upon release. 

Our true concern should be why monetary incentives are taking priority over human rights.

But the problem goes beyond just the fiscal impacts of this much-needed change. Last November, Californians voted against Proposition 6, which aimed to amend the state constitution to prohibit involuntary servitude in prisons. If passed, it would have protected incarcerated workers like Nicholas Tirado, who was punished for taking a sick day during his 11 years of incarceration.

Currently, penal labor is permitted under the 13th Amendment, written in 1865, which abolished slavery “except as a punishment for crime.” By voting against Proposition 6, citizens chose to remain complicit in the perpetuation of carceral enslavement. 

If incarcerated individuals were not forced to work, they could focus on earning degrees to secure jobs after release, rebuilding family connections or acquiring skills that qualify them for future careers. Research shows that these methods reduce recidivism, which is important to strive for as California has a recidivism rate of about 40%. Empowering prisoners to view their jobs as a right and treating them as such would foster a sense of pride in their work, much like the volunteer prison firefighters experience. This approach would pave an effective path for reassimilation.

The misconception that prison should be solely a place of punishment continues to shape the public’s view of the prison system, hindering incarcerated individuals’ chances of reintegration. The reality is that 95% of incarcerated people will eventually be released, and they would benefit from finding meaningful work, furthering their education and receiving fair compensation for their labor while in prison. Supporting their reintegration is not only the best outcome for them but also for society’s overall well-being.

Nicole Iftekhar is an Opinion Intern for the winter 2025 quarter. She can be reached at iftekhan@uci.edu.

Edited by Zahira Vasquez and Jaheem Conley

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