(INSID CALIFORNIA POLITICS) — Despite fighting on the front lines of wildfires across the state, thousands of incarcerated California firefighters made just a few dollars a day, but that changed earlier this year.
Earlier this year, a bipartisan state law increased their pay to the federal minimum wage, a move advocates say is long overdue.
According to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, incarcerated firefighters earn on average between $5 to $10 a day while on the frontlines.
Assemblymember Isaac Bryan, who wrote the new law, said that is too low.
“They deserve our gratitude. They deserve just compensation,” Bryan said.
Their compensation will increase to $7.25.
“It’s good for victims’ compensation — the money they owe in restitution,” Bryan said. “It’s good for them to rebuild their lives, for their children and families. It’s also just right and fair.”
Adam Cain worked as a firefighter during his 14 years behind bars.
“I’ve run into actual fires,” Cain said. “I’ve saved people in traffic collisions, turnovers on the freeways, so it was hard work.”
Statewide, there are an estimated 1,700+ incarcerated firefighters, including more than 1,100 who were deployed to fight the devastating Southern California fires in January.
“From saving people in daily crises to saving wildland to saving people,” Cain said. “To be compensated for that in cents is unfair. I think it’s time to really take a look at the wages and to increase those wages for incarcerated firefighters. It’s the right thing to do.”
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