Saw in hand, Jacob Castro opens fire lines in the hills around Los Angeles. Difficult work, but an opportunity for redemption for him, who spent 29 years in prison.
“It’s the first thing I’ve done in my life that I’m proud of,” he told AFP, taking advantage of a short break.
Jacob Castro is among a group of more than 900 inmates mobilized to help firefighters in an attempt to contain the fires that have ravaged entire neighborhoods of Los Angeles since January 7.
Their help, considered valuable by the firefighters, is however denounced by some because of the low remuneration received for hours of hard work.
“There are hundreds of trapped firefighters risking their lives to save us,” reality TV star and businesswoman Kim Kardashian wrote on social media. “They are hardly paid.”
These inmates receive between $5.80 and $10.24 per day, and an additional dollar per hour when responding to emergency situations, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) .
This low salary is set by California law. Voters in this traditionally liberal state had the opportunity to change it in a referendum in November, but chose to leave it as is.
“Second chance”
Prisoners see this experience as an opportunity to rebuild their lives, to be useful to society, and to obtain a reduced sentence.
“I’m happy to do this, to help the community by making up for the bad decisions I made in my life,” says Jacob Castro, who struggled in prison to get a place in one of the training camps to fight fires managed by the CDCR in California.
“It’s a chance to redeem myself,” he adds.
The prisoners can only be distinguished by their orange uniforms. Assigned to manual work, they can work 24-hour shifts, like firefighters.
On the sides of steep hills, they clear the vegetation using axes, mechanical saws and shovels, to prevent the flames from spreading.
“This is without a doubt one of the most difficult tasks I have ever carried out,” assures Maurice Griffin, who is in his third season in this department. But she “really made a difference in my life.”
“I really appreciate not being in prison, being out there making a difference and saving lives, and the solidarity with my team,” he says.
The training allowed Felix Nolasco, 28, to become “hard-working”.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for all of us. We give a second chance to those of us who want to change,” he continues, his voice breaking with emotion.
“Significant contribution”
Thousands of firefighters flocked from other western American states and other countries, such as Mexico, to help fight the flames which killed more than twenty people, forcing tens of thousands of people to flee their home.
Inmate teams are part of these reinforcements.
“They work very hard,” underlines Captain Joseph Cruz, in charge of one of these teams in Pacific Palisades, an upscale district of Los Angeles where nearly 2,800 buildings were destroyed. “Their contribution is significant, without them, our teams would be greatly reduced.”
On the ground, firefighters and inmates talk, laugh, eat and work together.
“This experience changed my life,” swears Santana Felix Nolasco, who now wants to swap his orange uniform for the yellow of that of the Californian firefighters when he gets out of prison.
The firefighters also enjoy working alongside them.
“It’s very rewarding,” emphasizes Joseph Cruz. “The goal is for them to change their behavior, to get rid of the habits that may have led them to where they are,” assures the captain. “And if one of them has a career afterwards, I can die peacefully, it will have been worth it.” »
