this post was submitted on 18 Jan 2025

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259

$10.24 a day to risk their lives – and a lot of pride: incarcerated LA firefighters speak out (www.theguardian.com)

submitted 2 weeks ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

41 comments fedilink hide all child comments

“I’ve never seen anything burn so quick,” said Almanza, 42, recounting the first day of the Eaton fire near Pasadena, California. “Our captains have to make the hard decisions: get yourselves killed or let the house burn.” His eyes welled up recounting the properties devoured as his crew had no choice but to retreat: “I was just so sad and emotional, because there was nothing we could do.”

Almanza is one of thousands of first responders who have put their lives on the line battling the historic windstorm-fueled fires that have ravaged LA.

Almanza is incarcerated and currently serving a state prison sentence, making up to $10.24 in daily wages fighting the wildfires, with $1 hourly bonuses while on the frontlines. Since last week, the California department of corrections and rehabilitation (CDCR) has deployed more than 1,100 incarcerated firefighters to the LA infernos, which have become some of the deadliest and most destructive in the region’s history.

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[+] [email protected] -7 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (3 children)

Has no one explained to you how a volunteer system works? If not, let me help..

It means…… it’s optional

[–] [email protected] 0 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

They just voted to keep it non-volunteer...three months ago. Less, actually. So why don't you stop harassing people.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

How exactly is it harassing people to explain what voluntary means? And as far as I can see- they’re still voluntary.

Look dude, just because I’m pointing out that it is in fact, voluntary- that doesn’t mean I support it. I just favor empirical truth over emotional reaction and manufacturing outrage.

And if it turns out that I’m wrong, then I’ll be wrong. I’m not going to argue about it. So why don’t you stop harassing people?

[–] [email protected] -2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

"Voluntary" and voluntary are different. If you want to be educated on the difference because you just don't quite get it, I'm confident you can get into San Quentin.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

And opinion and fact are also different. If you want to go find out for yourself and come back with proof, I’ll be happy to change my stance on the subject.

Until then, you’re offering nothing more that assumptions and opinions and posing them as factual evidence.

Rookie mistake, but forgiven.

Not arguing this anymore, so go ahead and have that coveted last word!

[–] [email protected] -2 points 2 weeks ago

Either fight fires or fight inmates

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

'May I just add, Mr Lipwig, that behind you there is a door. If at any time in this interview you feel you wish to leave, you have only to step through it and you will never hear from me again.'

Moist filed that under 'deeply suspicious'.

[...]

Moist looked at him. 'Excuse me,' he said, standing up, 'I'd just like to check something.'

There were two men dressed in black standing behind his chair. It wasn't a particularly neat black, more the black worn by people who just don't want little marks to show. They looked like clerks, until you met their eyes. They stood aside as Moist walked towards the door which, as promised, was indeed there. He opened it very carefully. There was nothing beyond, and that included a floor. In the manner of one who is going to try all possibilities, he took the remnant of spoon out of his pocket and let it drop. It was quite a long time before he heard the jingle.

Then he went back and sat in the chair.

'The prospect of freedom?' he said.

'Exactly,' said Lord Vetinari. 'There is always a choice.'

'You mean . . . I could choose certain death?'

'A choice, nevertheless,' said Vetinari.

Terry Pratchett, Going Postal

Technically speaking it is illegal for prisoners to be coerced into labor in the US - but it's often strongly encouraged.

[–] [email protected] -3 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

So…. Your evidence to the contrary is…. Fiction?

Well played. I guess I learned my lesson here.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Oh no - it's just that voluntary isn't always a fully free choice. The passage above is a demonstration of a choice being offered that technically allows freedom but strongly encourages one choice. I used it instead of writing up a comment like this because it was more fun.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

And you can’t know for sure exactly how things work in voluntary prison work, yet assume to know. What you’re doing is basing your entire argument on an assumption derived from the logic of a “fun” quote from a book.

There is no evidence to support your assumption. And there is no evidence needed to support mine, as the burden lies ion you to prove I’m wrong. I’ll need something more substantial than fiction.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

Just wondering if you've spent any time in one of the 16 American prisons that "encourages" prisoners to fight forest fires?

Because if not then you don't know how it works either, and should probably sit down.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 2 weeks ago

Great. Then it’s established that neither of us have a dog in this race and know nothing about how it works enough to complain about or defend it- so maybe we should both admit we don’t know enough to opine on it.

(which was my plan all along)