News of Southern California’s devastating wildfires has spread far and wide, inspiring some San Quentin residents to become firefighters.
Various news outlets report that between 783 to more than 1,000 CDCR firefighters were deployed to Los Angeles to fight the wildfires, which have claimed approximately 27 lives and consumed over 40,000 acres, according to TMZ News.
San Quentin resident and Los Angeles native Andre Potts, 35, shared how deeply affected he was by the news of lives lost and homes devastated in Pacific Palisades. The tragedy overwhelmed Potts, motivating him to help.
“I feel that becoming a firefighter will give me an opportunity to serve and uplift a community that I often times brought harm to as a youth with my criminal activity,” Potts said.
Potts added that he had requested a transfer to fire camp prior to the recent fires, and has been preparing his body for the rigorous training.
According to The Week, dependence on prison labor in California is almost as old as the state itself. In the 1850s, San Quentin State Prison was built by inmates held on nearby ships. In the early 1900s, road camps were promoted as a path to reintegrating with society by instilling a work ethic and personal responsibility into convicts.
Since World War II, California has relied on a unique group of firefighters to battle its fires. Although their numbers have varied over the years, imprisoned firefighters have sometimes comprised as much as one-third of its firefighting force, The Week reported.
Recently, reality TV star and business woman Kim Kardashian visited the Ventura Training Center, an organization that trains formerly incarcerated individuals to become firefighters.
Kardashian called on California Governor Gavin Newsom to increase the pay for incarcerated firefighters, who she called “actual heroes,” according to TMZ News.
According to the Marshall Project, incarcerated residents make between $5.80 and $10.24 per day as firefighters. They may earn an additional $1 per hour in emergency situations – capping at $26.90 for a 24-hour emergency shift.
In a written statement, CDCR Secretary Jeff Macomber stated that incarcerated firefighters are an “essential” part of the state’s response to the wildfires.
“Their commitment to protecting lives and property during these emergencies cannot be overstated,” wrote Macomber.
Tasks such as spreading fire retardant and operating fire hoses are left to fully-employed firefighters. By contrast, incarcerated firefighters generally work on “hand crews” that use people-powered tools to clear brush and create firebreaks to stymie the spread of wildfires. It is common practice for these hand crews to work in 24-hour shifts.
Firefighting is voluntary for incarcerated people; the work can be dangerous, and even deadly. Four incarcerated firefighters have lost their lives in the line of duty in recent years. Their names are among the residents honored by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, according to Smithsonian Magazine.
A 2018 TIME Magazine report revealed that incarcerated firefighters are four times more likely to be hurt by fallen objects than their professional counterparts, and eight times more likely to incur injuries related to smoke inhalation. The report also showed that 1,000 incarcerated firefighters required hospital care during the succeeding five-year span.
“We are right on [the] fire’s edge,” said Justin Schmollinger, who oversees the Conservation Camp for Cal Fire. “…You’re down there at times fighting fire with hand tools and you’re seeing a lot of fire with no water; so it gets intense.”
Potts stated that the pay does not match the danger that incarcerated firefighters face. His own motivation for going to fire camp was to combat the helplessness he felt seeing the wildfires ravage his community.
“I can’t watch the news coverage of the wildfires without becoming emotional, being that I’m from SoCal [Southern California]” Potts said. “To me, firefighting is a noble profession; I want to dedicate my life to saving people’s lives and property instead of taking lives and property.”
Potts added that at his sentencing hearing, the judge recommended that he go to fire camp once he served enough time and met the CDCR requirements. He now considers fighting fires to be his calling.
“My father was an incarcerated firefighter. I remember how proud that made me feel when my dad told me what he was doing with his time.” Potts said. “I want to be able to tell my own son that I’m saving lives and people’s homes. Hopefully he’ll be proud of me as well.”
