In a scene straight out of Fire Country, more than 900 inmates were enlisted to help fight the wildfires raging across the Los Angeles area.
According to ABC News, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) has tapped a total of 939 inmates, as of Friday, January 10, to volunteer in the fight to contain the wildfires spreading across the Pacific Palisades, Altadena and other neighborhoods in Los Angeles. The inmates were a part of California’s Conservation Fire Camps program, which tasks them to assist the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) to put out fires in the state.
“939 fire camp firefighters are working to cut fire lines and remove fuel to slow fire spread, including 110 support staff,” the CDCR said in a statement to People at the time. CDCR Jeff Macomber also added, “Wildfires are a constant and formidable challenge for California, and CDCR conservation fire camps remain dedicated to supporting the state’s response. The work of our incarcerated firefighters and staff is an essential part of this effort, and their commitment to protecting lives and property during these emergencies cannot be overstated.”
According to the CDCR, there are more than 30 “fire camps” throughout California with inmates who are trained in firefighting practices and techniques to respond to fires, floods and other disasters. Per the organization, the volunteering inmates are paid a daily wage between $5.80 and $10.24, plus an additional $1 per pour when responding to active fire or fire-related emergencies. The CDCR also noted to People that a crew could work up to a 24-hour shift during emergencies and that they are also paid during rest periods.
Fire Country, which premiered on CBS in 2022, centers around Bode Donovan, a convict who — hoping to redeem himself and shorten his prison sentence — volunteers for the California Conservation Camp Program to assist the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).
Max Thieriot, who plays Bode and is an executive producer on Fire Country, told Variety in 2022 that the show is based on his own experience growing up in Northern California. “Because of growing up in Northern California, it was normal, everyday life for me, seeing conservation camp crews work alongside the highway and on the fire lines driving around,” he said. “Then I realized folks that aren’t from up there, specifically, didn’t really know this was a thing a few years ago.”
He explained that he wanted to create the show to show a different side to inmates. “Unfortunately, the world and our country is still fairly divided,” he said. “My biggest goal and hope that people will take away from this show is you get to see two different groups of people—these inmate firefighters and your blue-collar rural firefighters—come together with one goal, one purpose.” He continued, “I hope that people will just subliminally take some of that away, and maybe just not judge people in general.”
Fire Country is available to stream on Paramount Plus.
