January 15, 2025 — The world is watching as incarcerated workers risk their lives fighting the LA fires, shining light on California’s shortcomings. Legal Services for Prisoners with Children (LSPC) joins forces with WorkSafe to fight to end the dangerous and inhumane conditions facing incarcerated individuals, particularly those risking their lives fighting California’s escalating wildfires. As climate change intensifies, the need for justice and safety becomes even more critical.
“When Prop 6 didn’t pass, it felt like the system got the green light to keep exploiting people. Now, California is seeing slavery play out in real time, with all of us watching incarcerated firefighters risking their lives without basic protections. We can’t keep ignoring this while the planet gets hotter and disasters grow more extreme,” said Paul Briley, LSPC Executive Director.
To combat the recent Los Angeles County fires, nearly 1,000 incarcerated firefighters work alongside CAL FIRE and LACFD, earning as little as $5.80 per day, plus $1 per hour for emergency work. In contrast, their non-incarcerated counterparts—who earn annual salaries starting at $85,000—are paid $1,000 per day for emergency wildfire work. Furthermore, research shows that incarcerated firefighters are four times more likely to suffer serious injuries and eight times more likely to experience smoke-related health issues than professional firefighters, exposing the urgent need for change.
While California Department of Corrections and rehabilitation (CDCR) frames participation in fire camps as voluntary, the reality is more complex. Pressure to volunteer is influenced by promises of reduced sentences and limited alternatives. Once at camp, refusing assigned duties can result in disciplinary actions, including removal from the camp and a return to higher-security facilities. This distinction matters: declining fire camp is not penalized, but refusing work assignments within the program is treated like any other job refusal in CDCR’s system. Such policies blur the lines between voluntariness and coercion, creating a system ripe for exploitation under the guise of choice. LSPC and WorkSafe aim to cut through the confusion and advocate for real protections that uphold dignity and humanity for all. Together, we are fighting for a California that values justice over profit, safety over exploitation, and truth over convenience.
“We must ask ourselves—what kind of society lets people risk their lives to save lives without recognition, simply because they are incarcerated? The same society that tolerates slavery under another name—that’s who,” Briley added.
LSPC and WorkSafe are committed to ensuring that those most impacted by these issues—incarcerated individuals and their families—have a voice in shaping solutions. LSPC and WorkSafe are advocating to:
Establish safety standards and protocols to protect incarcerated individuals during heatwaves, floods, wildfires, and other climate-driven emergencies.
Address gaps in CDCR’s outdated policies that fail to account for today’s climate realities.
Ensure fair pay and adequate safety measures for incarcerated firefighters risking their lives alongside professional crews.
The organizations emphasize that participation in fire camps must remain voluntary without punitive measures for opting out, while also addressing the systemic injustices that force people into such perilous work.
To members of the press covering this issue, LSPC can connect you with individuals who have firsthand experience—whether it’s battling wildfires while incarcerated or enduring climate disasters behind prison walls, such as extreme heat, cold, or flooding.
