PASADENA, Calif. (KABC) — Tons of of the firefighters working tirelessly on the hearth strains to guard lives and property in Southern California are literally serving time in jail.
As two historic wildfires raged in Southern California, Joseph McKinney and Sal Almanza had been among the many firefighters who rushed to assist.
“Bodily, it is fairly demanding. There’s numerous climbing, and it is in a tough terrain,” incarcerated firefighter Joseph McKinney stated.
“We frequently go the place bulldozers and different autos can not go,” Sal Almanza, who’s serving a 4-year sentence on the minimum-security Fenner Canyon Conservation Camp, stated.
The Visalia natives are two of California’s greater than 1,000 incarcerated firefighters responding to this emergency. They’re a part of a state program for incarcerated women and men.
“I knew that the firefighting program was going to be the quickest avenue for me to get dwelling to my son, so I knew that is what I needed to do. Firefighting has truly at all times been a ardour of mine,” Almanza stated.
Most who’re eligible and select to hitch can qualify for sentence reductions. They will stand up to 2 days off their sentences for day by day on a fireplace crew. They earn as much as roughly $10 a day, plus an additional greenback throughout emergencies.
What to learn about incarcerated firefighters working the L.A. space blazes
McKinney says he is labored so long as 24 hours.
“It was quite a bit, however, you recognize, they maintain the water coming. They maintain meals coming, and you recognize, you feed off the vitality of the opposite guys,” McKinney stated.
“We’re all pleased with you, and in addition, we’ll attempt to combat to get y’all paid,” California State Assemblymember Isaac Bryan stated.
Bryan and different authorities officers met with a few of the incarcerated firefighters at their base camp in Pasadena. The firefighters got here from greater than 30 camps throughout the state.
Bryan simply launched laws to extend their pay.
“What AB 247 says is that if you’re incarcerated, and you’re actively preventing a wildfire, you’re on the entrance line. You might be on the hearth line doing that lifesaving work. You ought to be compensated on the similar charge because the lowest-paid one that just isn’t incarcerated,” Bryan stated.
McKinney and Almanza have been moved by the outpouring of assist from the general public.
“It simply looks like typically you are tucked away, you recognize, and nobody will get to share. You aren’t getting to share these experiences with no one. So when the neighborhood comes out and reveals the love and the outpouring, it simply actually feels good; you recognize, it looks like somebody cares and somebody is aware of what you are doing,” Almanza stated.
One of many organizations that has advocated with and for these firefighters is the Anti-Recidivism Coalition. They helped write a invoice to expunge their data.
The group additionally helps run a firefighter coaching and reentry program that creates a pathway for a profession upon launch.
“I’ve about two years left on my sentence. By the point that it is over, I needs to be fairly dialed in and know what I am doing, so I am excited to pursue that,” McKinney stated.
Copyright © 2025 KABC Tv, LLC. All rights reserved.
