Incarcerated firefighters battling wildfires in Southern California moved forward amid an outpouring of support from the public

PASADENA, Calif. (KABC) — Hundreds of the firefighters who work tirelessly on fire lines to protect lives and property in Southern California are actually in prison.

When two historic wildfires raged in Southern California, Joseph McKinney and Sal Almanza were among the firefighters who rushed to help.

“Physically it’s quite demanding. There’s a lot of hiking involved and it’s through rough terrain,” said incarcerated firefighter Joseph McKinney.

“We often go where bulldozers and other vehicles can’t go,” said Sal Almanza, who is serving a four-year sentence at the minimum-security Fenner Canyon Conservation Camp.

The Visalia residents are two of California’s more than 1,000 incarcerated firefighters responding to this emergency. They are part of a state program for incarcerated men and women.

“I knew the fire service program would be the quickest way for me to get home to my son, so I knew it was what I wanted to do. Firefighting has actually always been a passion of mine,” Almanza said.

Most eligible people who choose to join are eligible for sentence reductions. They can get up to two days off their sentence for every day they work on the fire department. You’ll earn up to about $10 a day, plus an extra dollar in emergencies.

McKinney says he worked up to 24 hours.

“It was a lot, but you know, they keep the water coming. You keep the food coming and you know, you feed off the energy of the other guys,” McKinney said.

“We are all proud of you and we will also try to fight to get you all paid,” said Isaac Bryan, a member of the California State Assembly.

Bryan and other government officials met with some of the detained firefighters at their base camp in Pasadena. The firefighters came from more than 30 camps across the state.

Bryan just introduced a pay raise bill.

“What AB 247 says is that if you are incarcerated and actively fighting a wildfire, you are on the front lines. You stand on the fire line and do life-saving work. They should be compensated at the same level as the lowest…” “A paid person who is not incarcerated,” Bryan said.

McKinney and Almanza were touched by the outpouring of public support.

“Sometimes it just feels like you’re secluded, you know, and no one’s allowed to share it. You can’t share these experiences with anyone. So when the community comes out and shows the love and the shock, that’s just how it is.” “It feels really good; it feels like someone cares and someone knows what you’re doing,” Almanza said.

One of the organizations that has worked with and for these firefighters is the Anti-Recidivism Coalition. They helped write a bill to expunge their records.

The organization also helps run a training and re-entry program for firefighters, paving the way for a career after discharge.

“I still have about two years left in my sentence. By the time it’s over, I should be pretty knowledgeable and know what I’m doing, so I’m looking forward to pursuing that,” McKinney said.