CA bill to raise incarcerated firefighters’ pay to $7.25 advances

CALIFORNIA – Assembly Bill 247, a measure that would guarantee incarcerated firefighters earn $7.25 per hour while assigned to active fire, was approved 6–0 by the Senate Public Safety Committee on July 8.

The measure goes to the Senate Appropriations Committee for the next review.

Assemblymember and bill author Isaac Bryan said incarcerated firefighters currently earn $5 to $10 per day.

“Crews typically work grueling 24-hour shifts–although this year’s Los Angeles fires saw many working double that,” said Bryan in the bill analysis.

He added that AB 247 will ensure that incarcerated people on the front line of fire disasters receive fair compensation for their invaluable service during devastating fires.

The bill originally proposed a $19-an-hour wage but was lowered.

Fire camp participants receive entry level training from Cal Fire

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), in cooperation with Cal Fire and the Los Angeles County Fire Department, jointly operates 35 conservation camps, commonly referred to as fire camps, in 25 counties across the state.

All fire camps are minimum-security facilities which are overseen by CDCR employees.

Incarcerated fire camp participants receive entry-level and ongoing training from Cal Fire, similar to seasonal firefighters.

Incarcerated individuals must volunteer for fire camps, but some—such as those with sex offense, arson, or violent escape convictions, are ineligible.

Their current compensation is $5.80 and $10.24 per day based on skill level and position with an additional $1 per hour while assigned to an active emergency.

AB 247 would raise that hourly pay to at least $7.25 and provide for annual adjustments.

Opponents argue that AB 247 would create a substantial cost for counties

The California State Sheriffs’ Association says inmates trained as firefighters earn two days of credit for every day served in that role.

They say this means an inmate would only serve one-third of their sentence for the time they qualify.

“AB 247 could also create significant fiscal pressure on counties already facing challenging budget times,” said the association.

They add that counties, if they are to be responsible for paying this new wage, would be forced to consider a substantial new cost when determining if and how to deploy inmate firefighters.