Early in the new year catastrophic wildfires swept through the Palisades area in California. Due to the intensity of the fires and the amount of them, there was a severe lack of firefighters. Because of this, California has prisoners fighting the wildfires. These inmates, some of whom are serving extremely long sentences for nonviolent crimes, were paid between $1 and $10.24 a day! The use of prisoners as firefighters isn’t new in California, and has continued to cause controversy on how inhumane the practice is. One of the main concerns is whether they are valuing the prisoners lives less than the professional firefighters lives and how their difficult situations are being exploited. One of the brave inmates said during an interview “It’s a dangerous job and we are doing the same work as professionals who make thousands of dollars. But for us it’s just a dollar or two a day.”

Prisoner firefighters and professional firefighters work the same very long and hard hours. They hike into dangerous terrain with heavy equipment, dig fire breaks and face the same risks as regular, paid firefighters. Their work is essential for current and future wildfires to be contained, they save homes and lives. Even though the pay they receive barely even covers the price of a full sized candy bar, they are still not allowed to be official firefighters after they are released from prison, because of their criminal record. One of the prisoners called the experience of being a firefighter “bittersweet; You feel proud to help people, but it’s hard knowing you’re putting your life on the line for pocket change.”

A question this brings up is, “why choose prisoners to fight the fires?” because of California’s continued reliance on them. As fires get more common and more intense, the demand for firefighters has drastically increased, so prisoner labor is seen as a cheap solution. According to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the state saves millions of dollars every year, by employing prisoner firefighters when the demand is at this level. Many people disagree and think this practice is not exploitative and is seen as an opportunity to reduce prisoners’ sentences. It has also been pointed out that the prisoners usually don’t have the same protective gear, or resources that the professional firefighters do, increasing their risk of injury, or death.

The Palisades Fire brought renewed attention to this program, with many people calling for a change. Activists and Politicians have pushed for increased wages, equal safety standards and potential jobs for when the inmates are released from prison. “These prisoners are doing heroic work,” said a spokesman from the American Civil Liberties Union. “They deserve fair pay and opportunities to turn their experience into careers.” Supporters of the practice believe that it gives the prisoners a sense of purpose and an opportunity to contribute to society. Many who participate agree, and express pride in their selfless work and the positive difference they made. It also gives them an opportunity to take time off their prison sentences. Advocacy groups who disagree with the practice argue that the benefits shouldn’t come at the expense of their safety and fairness. The past and present brave prisoners will remain underappreciated and underpaid heroes.