Inmate firefighters could see pay raise under proposed CA bill
Inmates (in orange) help firefighters extinguish the last embers in the hills of Mandeville Canyon after the Palisades Fire burned part of it, on January 13, 2025, in Los Angeles, California. A huge village has sprung up on the golden sands of a Mali
LOS ANGELES - Hundreds of inmate firefighters joined the frontlines to help battle the massive and deadly wildfires in Southern California.
Incarcerated fire crew members earn between $5.80 and $10.24 per day, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. But, a bill recently introduced by California Assemblymember Isaac Bryan could change that by giving them a pay raise.
Assembly Bill 247 would require that in addition to receiving credits, inmate firefighters would be paid an hourly wage equal to the lowest nonincarcerated firefighter in the state for the time that they are actively fighting a fire.
The bill would also require that eligible inmate firefighters earn two days of credit for every one day of service.
"Incarcerated firefighters are on the frontlines saving lives. They are heroes just like everybody else on the frontlines and they deserve to be paid like it," Bryan said in a statement.
How much do inmate firefighters earn?
Inmate firefighters can earn between $5.80 and $10.24 per day. While assigned to an active emergency, incarcerated crew members earn an additional $1 per hour paid by CAL FIRE, regardless of skill level.
According to CDCR, during emergencies, crews can work a 24-hour shift, followed by 24 hours of rest. "For one 24-hour shift during an active emergency, the lowest skill level would earn $29.80 per day. They are paid during rest periods, as well," the CDCR explained on their website.
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Camp participants also earn time credits. Most incarcerated fire crew members receive 2-for-1 credits, meaning they receive two additional days off their sentence for every one day they serve on a fire crew. Camp volunteers who work as support staff, but not on a fire crew, receive 1-for-1 credits.
What jobs do inmate firefighters perform?
Inmate firefighters are also known as hand crews that use hand tools to aid in wildfire suppression. They do not use water or hoses, according to the CDCR.
Participants in the Conservation (Fire) Camp Program can also work as camp support and maintenance staff including cooks, laundry workers, landscapers and water treatment plant operators.
According to CDCR, the primary goal of the Conservation (Fire) Camp Program is to support state, local and federal government agencies that respond to emergencies including fires, floods, and other natural disasters. Hand crews also respond to rescue efforts in local parks or flood suppression.