Kim Kardashian advocates higher pay for inmate firefighters
Kim Kardashian has urged Governor Gavin Newsom to add to existing wage rates of incarcerated firefighters, who have been working on the front lines and combating wildfires that have taken over Los Angeles. She praised them, calling them heroes.
Since flaring up on January 7, the Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire have set 37,000 acres of area ablaze. The "American Horror Story: Delicate" star shared a video from the nonprofit Anti-Recidivism Coalition, highlighting the efforts of 800 incarcerated individuals actively fighting the fire.
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The entrepreneur and media figure shared a series of posts on her Instagram Story, starting with a message of appreciation for first responders. "I have spent the last week watching my city burning. And have seen and spoken to many firefighters who are up all night long using every ounce of their strength to save our community," she conveyed.
"On all five fires in Los Angeles, there are hundreds of incarcerated firefighters, risking their lives to save us. They are on the Palisades fire and Eaton fire in Pasadena working 24-hour shifts. They get paid almost nothing, risk their lives, and some have died, to prove to the community that they have changed and are now first responders. I see them as heroes," she added.
According to Kardashian and the New York Times, incarcerated firefighters earn a maximum of $10.24 per day, with an extra $1 per hour provided by Cal Fire during emergencies, as stated by the corrections department. Under new regulations introduced in April last year, entry-level incarcerated firefighters can earn as little as $5.80 per day. This is an increase from the decades-old pay range of $2.90 to $5.13 daily, as reported by KQED. Historically, incarcerated individuals have comprised up to 30% of California's wildfire response workforce.
According to the Marshall Project, firefighting is one of the most sought-after jobs for incarcerated individuals. However, while many find the work rewarding, it raises ethical concerns since involuntary servitude is permitted as punishment for a crime under both the US and California constitutions. In the 2024 presidential election, California voters had the chance to eliminate this provision, but 53.3% chose to maintain it by rejecting Proposition 6. Although new legislation aims to simplify the process for former incarcerated firefighters to have their records cleared and secure firefighting jobs, the procedure remains challenging and time-intensive.
"I am urging @cagovernor to do what no governor has done in four decades, and raise the incarcerated firefighter pay to a rate the [sic] honors a human being risking their life to save our lives and homes," Kardashian encouraged.
"And lastly I want to thank the firefighters from the @calfire Ventura Training Center for saving my community when it started burning this week. These are all FORMERLY incarcerated firefighters who have come home and want to continue serving our community as firefighters. Due to bills passed by @antirecidivismcoalition, these guys can now get their sentences reduced, expunging the felonies from their records for their fire service. And when they come home can get six-figure jobs working for the fire departments," she concluded.
Kardashian was referring to the Kenneth Fire, which ignited on January 9 and is now mostly contained at 80%. This is not her first foray into advocating for social justice. Previously, she has been outspoken on various issues, while continuing her law school education.
Most recently, she visited Erik and Lyle Menéndez in prison and expressed support for former Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón's recommendation for resentencing. The hearing, initially scheduled earlier, has been postponed to the end of the month, with the new District Attorney, Nathan Hochman, now overseeing the case.
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