One of the key components of California fire containment is the assistance of inmate firefighters. Inmate firefighting teams have been present and on the front lines of some of California’s most deadly wildfires. However, recent outbreaks of COVID-19 in the prison population have put the state’s source of cheap labor, and California fire containment, at risk.

The Role of Inmate Firefighters in California Fire Containment

Inmate fire crews have been integral to California fire containment for decades. They function as the state’s primary “hand crews” which work to control fires by removing potential fuel. This means that inmate firefighters create “firelines” cleared of trees and mineral soil. According to the U.S. Forest Service, these teams work on the ground with air support supplied by air tankers or helicopters.

When not on duty, inmate firefighters are stationed at minimum-security fire camps in 27 California counties. These inmates serve as an indispensable part of California fire containment and are paid $2 to $5 per day for their work with an additional $1 per hour for work on a fire.

COVID-19 Outbreaks in the Prison Population

Prisons across the country have become hot spots for the coronavirus, largely due to a lack of social distancing and the close quarters inherent to prisons. According to data provided by the United States Bureau of Prisons, roughly four percent of the prison population has “recovered” from the coronavirus. Compare this to the rate of cases in the U.S. which is currently at less than one percent of the population, according to census data and the CDC.

COVID-19 and California Inmate Firefighters

After a massive outbreak of COVID-19 at California Correctional Center, the facility and a dozen fire conservation camps in the north were put on lockdown. As a part of the lockdown, inmate firefighters are now receiving daily health screenings.

According to the Sacramento Bee, there are roughly 2,200 certified inmate firefighters in California. Currently, only 30 of the state’s 77 inmate firefighting crews are still available to assist in California fire containment. Cal Fire’s total workforce peaks at 9,000, so a 1,000 person reduction in inmate assistance has a big impact.

“To have that many (conservation camps) locked down, there are only a few camps left in the north that are going to be able to fight fires,” former union president of the fire camp system Mike Hampton told the Sacramento Bee.

In response to the reduction in inmate firefighting assistance, the agency in charge of California fire containment, the Cali. Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and state fire officials are looking for additional bulldozers and firefighting aircraft. Officials are also scrambling to make new hand crews to do the work usually covered by inmate crews.

The issue isn’t helped by the fact that the prison population in California has been reduced by nearly 10,000 since March. This reduction includes inmates already at the end of their sentences, and inmates who had their release expedited as a part of the coronavirus pandemic control efforts. Camps in the state have fallen from 90 to 77 as a result of a number of factors.

California Fire Containment Safety Concerns

Each fire crew has a total of 17 inmate team members. These teams are overseen by Cal Fire captains possibly accompanied by a correctional officer. As a part of the screening process for these crews, prison officials disqualify any inmates who could be dangerous to the public. This isn’t likely to change due to the shortages.

“The whole purpose of the program is to fight fires and save the state money,” Hampton said. “You put high-risk inmates in there, that defeats the safety standpoint for citizens out there.”

There have been a handful of cases in which an inmate firefighter has attempted to escape from firefighting camps. In one of these cases, an inmate firefighter named Jeffory Lynn Shook walked away from a camp in Nevada before leading police and SWAT teams on a chase across four counties. According to the Sacramento Bee, at the time of his original arrest, officers called Shook “one of the most violent and dangerous suspects we’ve encountered in a long time.” This case shocked experts because violent inmates are supposed to be disqualified from these positions.

This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.