Forced labor on the frontlines of L.A. raging fires

As wildfires cause devastation across California, many are praising the brave wildfire workforce on the front lines battling the flames. Yet what many do not realize is that 30% of that workforce are incarcerated individuals, a group relied upon for decades to bolster firefighting efforts, yet not afforded the same rights and dignity as non-incarcerated workers. Their involvement highlights a controversial exception clause in the 13^th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which abolished slavery—except as a punishment for crime.

Exploited labor

The conditions under which incarcerated firefighters work raise serious questions about fairness and equity. According to a report published by Forbes, compensation for incarcerated firefighters is inhumanely low, with their earnings ranging from $0.16 to $0.74 per hour, or a maximum daily rate of $5.80 to 10.24, depending on their skill level and task assigned.

Moreover, the grueling work is often carried out under outrageously inadequate conditions. As written in the article,

Most of their lunches consist of a simple sandwich—two pieces of white bread with a few slices of bologna—plus an apple. Their daily food budget of approximately $4 per day is hardly enough to sustain them for their high volume of manual labor.

Incarcerated firefighters have some of the highest injury rates among all prison workers and are four times more likely to sustain injuries compared to other firefighters. Also, they work some of the longest hours and have some of the hardest tasks to execute. They don’t shoot water hoses; they use powered chainsaws and manual hand tools, such as axes, with the goal of starving the fire of fuel to continue to burn.

Additionally, despite their critical contributions, these workers are excluded from pathways to professional firefighting upon release, leaving them with few opportunities to translate their experience into stable employment.

Legacy of convict-leasing and the push for reform

The use of incarcerated labor is rooted in the 13th Amendment’s “slavery clause,” which allows involuntary servitude as punishment for a crime. Passed in 1865, this clause has perpetuated systems of forced labor, evolving into practices like convict leasing and, today, the widespread use of prison labor.

This unethical practice is present in various industries across the country. According to Forbes,

It is estimated that $11 billion in prison labor is used annually, from making hand sanitizer and digging mass graves during COVID-19 to cleaning up hazardous materials. The Associated Press recently uncovered a hidden workforce, apparently linking Popeyes, Coca-Cola, Chipotle, Burger King and Kellogg’s to forced prison labor. And in instead of pay—which for some is pennies per hour—the prisoners’ wages are often garnished to pay for things like their own room and board and court fees to appeal their cases.

Efforts to address the inequities of inmate labor have faced significant challenges. While California voters recently rejected Proposition 6, a measure that would have banned forced prison labor, some states—including Colorado, Vermont, and Oregon—have successfully abolished this practice. Advocates, including Freedom United, argue that decent work and protections for incarcerated workers are long overdue.

The stakes are exceptionally high in California, where incarcerated firefighters make up 30% of the wildfire workforce. With the state experiencing increasingly severe fire seasons, the reliance on prison labor raises ethical and practical concerns.

“These men and women risk their lives to protect our communities,” advocates say, “yet they are denied the dignity and rights afforded to other workers.”

Ending prison slavery in the U.S.

The practice of exploiting prison labor has deep historical roots in the U.S. and is tied to the exception clause in the 13th Amendment, which permits slavery and involuntary servitude as punishment for a crime.

For years, the Freedom United community has been calling for an end to forced prison labor in the U.S.  It’s past time to address and eliminate forced labor in all its forms, delivering justice to all.

Help us make slavery a thing of the past. Join the movement today.