What is Conservation (Fire) Camp Program? California incarcerated firefighters program triggers criticism amid LA Wildfires

The Conservation (Fire) Camp Program has been deploying incarcerated firefighters to help with the LA wildfires. California’s Conservation (Fire) Camp Program is a collaboration between the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), and the Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACFD).

As per the CDCR website,

Participants of these camps support state, local and federal government agencies as they respond to all types of emergencies such as fires, floods, and other natural or manmade disasters

This program enlists and trains prisoners to help combat wildfires and respond to other emergencies like floods and natural disasters. NBC News 10 reported that the program operates 35 low-security camps located in over 24 counties throughout California.

During previous wildfire seasons, incarcerated individuals made up nearly a third of the state’s firefighting workforce, according to the Los Angeles Times. However, this number has significantly declined in recent years due to changes in prison policies and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2005, over 4,000 incarcerated firefighters were active, but by mid-2024, that number had dropped to fewer than 2,000.

California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation (CDCR) posted an update about the incarcerated firefighters helping mitigate the LA wildfires disaster. They wrote:

"Thank you @CAGovernor for visiting CDCR’s Fire Camp Program firefighters. Our 900+ firefighters are proud to work alongside @CAL_FIRE to augment response in LA. @CAGovernor signed a law enabling these firefighters to have more career opportunities and advancement upon release."

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Criticism of California's Incarcerated Firefighters Program

Although the Conservation (Fire) Camp Program provides critical support during wildfire season, it has faced significant criticism, especially for being exploitative in nature. California is one of 12 states that use incarcerated people to help fight fires.

In 2022, voters rejected Proposition 6, which aimed to ban forced labor in prisons and jails. The measure would have stopped using incarcerated firefighters to fill labor shortages during emergencies like wildfires. Despite support from advocacy groups, labor unions, and Democratic leaders, it did not pass.

However, although a dangerous job, people behind bars see the Conservation (Fire) Camp Program as conducive for them. As reported by NBC News, in a 2021 essay for The Washington Post, Matthew Hahn, who served nine years behind bars, acknowledged the legitimate concerns about fire camps but explained that the hazardous work felt like a better alternative to prison life. He shared that many inmates hope to be part of the fire program:

“The conditions in California prisons are so terrible that fighting wildfires is a rational choice. It is probably the safest choice as well,”

A man named 'Kimbo,' from the Growlersburg Conservation Camp in Georgetown, California, shared that he earns roughly $5 daily, totaling around $180 per month, while frequently working 24-hour shifts. He said:

“I was in the prison yard, I’m seeing guys get stabbed, get jumped, get beat up. Cops treat us like s---. But here we get better treatment. They talk to us like humans. We got a job. We’re underpaid, but we got a job.”

According to an article by Cal Matters, critics argue that the program exploits incarcerated firefighters by forcing them to work in dangerous conditions for minimal pay, often as little as $1 per hour or less. They claim that this labor, while crucial to fighting wildfires, does not properly compensate or rehabilitate the individuals involved.