Currently, only three fires remain active across the region.
The death toll has increased to 16, with over 10,000 residences and other buildings destroyed.
A workforce exceeding 7,500 people is engaged in the battle against these destructive wildfires, including 939 prison inmates, as confirmed by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) to CBS on Friday (January 10).
Earlier this week, Jeff Macomber, secretary of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, stated: “Wildfires are a constant and formidable challenge for California, and CDCR conservation fire camps remain dedicated to supporting the state’s response.
“The work of our incarcerated firefighters and staff is an essential part of this effort, and their commitment to protecting lives and property during these emergencies cannot be overstated.”
The inmates have willingly volunteered for this task and receive compensation for their labor.
They are deployed to agencies at the state, local, and federal levels, which typically assist in managing natural disasters like earthquakes.
CBS News reports that some prisoners are tasked with clearing vegetation to create fire lines and removing fuel from around structures to potentially slow the fires’ progress.
According to CDCR, the inmates earn between $5.80 and $10.24 per day, a figure that highlights the modest nature of their payment.
California has a long history of utilizing inmate firefighters, a practice that dates back to 1915.
As reported by Forbes, a formal training program for inmates was established in 1946.
Meanwhile, Bob Marshall, chief executive of Whisker Labs, spoke to Fox News about the crisis, noting a significant rise in electrical faults in the area of the wildfires just hours prior to their ignition.
“Faults are caused by tree limbs touching wires or wires blowing in the wind and touching. That creates a spark in a fault, and we detect all of those things,” he explained to the outlet.
Investigations are ongoing into the cause of the fires, though Marshall’s hypothesis has yet to be validated by officials.
Support for those impacted by the fires can be extended through donations to the Red Cross online, by calling (800) 733-2767, or by texting REDCROSS to 90999.