“It’s the first thing I’ve done in my life that I’m proud of,“ Castro told AFP during a short break from work.
Firefighters say the teams are invaluable -- but not everyone is happy they are there.
“There are hundreds of incarcerated firefighters, risking their lives to save us,“ the “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” star wrote on social media.
Inmates who work in firefighting earn between $5.80 and $10.24 per day, plus an additional $1 per hour when dealing with emergencies, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR).
Liberal California had the opportunity to change this rule in a referendum in November, but voters rejected the proposal.
The practice is popular with inmates, who told AFP they see it as a chance to help society -- as well as to shave time off their sentences.
“It’s a chance to redeem myself.”
Deployed to perform manual labor, they can work shifts of up to 24 hours, just like firefighters.
“This is definitely some of the hardest work I’ve done,“ said Maurice Griffin, who has already been in the service for three seasons.
“I really appreciate the opportunity to not be in prison and be out changing lives and saving lives.”
“It’s a big opportunity for every single one of us here,“ he said. “They give us a second chance for those that actually really want to change,“ he said, his voice cracking with emotion.
The inmates are among thousands of firefighters from all over the United States, as well as from Mexico, who have been fighting the flames that forced tens of thousands of people from their homes and scorched 40,000 acres (16,000 hectares).
Firefighters and prisoners talk, laugh, eat and work together.
Cruz says seeing the positive effect on the men in his charge is “very rewarding.”
“If I retired today, and I knew that I had a couple of guys that were able to get career paths after it, after leaving here... I would be happy.
“It’s a great thing, and that’s what I do it for.”
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