By Nathalie Medina, age 10
On Jan. 7, 2025, a fire broke out in the Pacific Palisades and Eaton communities in Los Angeles, Calif. The fires spread more than 20,000 and 14,000 acres, respectively, destroying or damaging thousands of structures. Thirty deaths were reported in the fires. According to NBC News, around 200,000 people fled their homes.
Weather changes and climate instability played significant roles in the destructive nature of the fires. Fossil fuels contribute to extreme weather events because of the release of carbon dioxide, which creates pollution and affects our climate. Recently, the weather in California went from dry to wet really quickly, also called weather whiplash. There isn’t a specific “fire season” in California anymore, because rain has been delayed. According to CNN, “It has been the driest start to winter on record in Southern California,” leaving “California and its Mediterranean climate vulnerable to extreme fire behavior.”
More than 1,000 individuals fought the Southern California wildfires who aren’t regular firefighters—they are incarcerated. “California is one of more than a dozen states that operates conservation camps, commonly known as fire camps,” where prisoners learn firefighting skills, as reported by NPR. The Department of Corrections in California says these firefighters are there voluntarily and are paid between $5.80 and $10.24 daily. California’s minimum wage is $16.50 per hour. Firefighters for the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection make between $50,000 and $60,000 annually, significantly more than their incarcerated counterparts. In the 2024 election, California and Nevada voters were faced with ballot measures on whether or not prisoners could be used for unpaid labor. Nevada voters chose to end this practice, while California voters did not.
Many people are working to rebuild their lives and communities after the devastation from the fires. Incarcerated firefighters’ role in stopping the fires has reignited conversations around fair labor in prisons. Similarly, the amount of destruction caused by the fires has made Californians more aware of the dangers of ignoring the climate issues of today, especially as meteorologists are predicting an increased wildfire risk in California in June and July due to abnormally hot and dry conditions.
