Prison inmates being drafted to help with LA wildfires as death toll and damage to structures rises
Topics: US News, Wildfires, California, Environment
Callum Jones
Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Image/David McNew/Getty Images
Topics: US News, Wildfires, California, Environment
Prison inmates are being drafted to help with the ongoing LA wildfires as the death toll and damage to structures continues to rise.
Eight fires were confirmed to have been blazing in the LA region, with three having confirmed to have been contained by firefighters.
Overnight, that figure has since dropped to three fires burning across the region.
The death toll has since risen to 16, while more than 10,000 homes and other structures have been destroyed.
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More than 7,500 people are helping with the efforts to bring an end to these devastating wildfires, including 939 prison inmates, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) confirmed to CBS on Friday (January 10).
Jeff Macomber, secretary of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, said earlier this week: "Wildfires are a constant and formidable challenge for California, and CDCR conservation fire camps remain dedicated to supporting the state’s response.
"The work of our incarcerated firefighters and staff is an essential part of this effort, and their commitment to protecting lives and property during these emergencies cannot be overstated."
The prison inmates have volunteered to help out with the efforts and are paid for their work.
They are heading to the likes of state, local and federal government agencies, who are typically used to help with natural disasters such as earthquakes.
CBS News reports some prisoners are removing vegetation to dispense of fire lines, while also getting rid of fuel behind structures and properties to hopefully slow down the fires.
CDCR says the inmates are paid $5.80 and $10.24 per day, which you can't argue is a lowly amount.
The Sate of California bringing in inmate firefighters is nothing new, with the practice being used since 1915.
Forbes reports these inmates entered a program to become properly trained for the first time in 1946.
Away from the efforts, Chief executive of Whisker Labs, Bob Marshall, has been speaking to Fox News amid the ongoing crisis, where he stated a sharp increase in faults in the same area where the wildfires are burning were reported just hours before the fires started.
"Faults are caused by tree limbs touching wires or wires blowing in the wind and touching. That creates a spark in a fault, and we detect all of those things," he explained to the outlet.
Investigations into how the fires started are underway, but Marshall's theory has not been confirmed by officials.
You can support those affected by the fires by donating to the Red Cross online, by calling (800) 733-2767 or texting REDCROSS to 90999.