An inmate serving a 16-year sentence for firearms charges was apprehended Thursday morning after he walked away from the ...

Sal Almanza has worked 24-hour shifts in grueling terrain, cutting fire lines and hauling away brush trying to keep ahead of fires that have devastated several Los Angeles neighborhoods.

California's program is not without controversy, as the inmates are paid little for dangerous and difficult work. Many participants, however, say they appreciated the opportunity.

acknowledged the legitimate concerns about fire camps but explained that the hazardous work felt like a better alternative to prison life. He shared that many inmates hope to be part of the fire ...

As wildfires continue to burn in and around Los Angeles, the fact that many of the firefighters battling the blazes are inmates from California's prison system has drawn significant attention in news ...

But when the fires are finally out, he won’t be going back to his family: He’ll be returning to the prison “fire camp” where he’s serving time for drunken driving that injured someone.

They’re also provided food in the form of sandwiches and fruit. Inmate firefighters are trained at one of the state Department of Corrections’ more than 30 “fire camps,” which are essentially minimum ...

Roughly 30 percent of firefighters battling the California wildfires are incarcerated, earning time off their sentences and up to $26.90 per day.

Inmate firefighters are trained at one of the state Department of Corrections’ more than 30 “fire camps,” which are essentially minimum security prison camps doubling as firefighter schools.

The Conservation (Fire) Camp Program, jointly run by ... About 900 of them are prison inmates. Multiple blazes in the Los Angeles region have burned more than 40,000 acres, killed at least ...

But there are benefits to California’s prison fire camps, Ramey says. While incarcerated, he and Smith fell in love with fighting fire and the feeling of being needed. “We need firefighters ...