EL CAJON, United States (AFP) — Thousands of inmates from California's jails are battling on the frontlines of the wildfire crisis, determined to repay their debt to society and hoping their heroism might lead to an early release and a brighter future.
An estimated 2,600 inmates have been deployed to help tackle the series of raging infernos, toiling alongside full-time firefighters who are routinely described as heroes by grateful politicians and public.
"It gives you a little sense of pride, 'cause you're saving houses and stuff," says 40-year-old inmate Benjamin Gonzalez, a "saw man," who is serving in his fourth annual firefighting season in California.
Gonzalez is part of a little-publicized program run by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation aimed at teaching offenders firefighting skills for use when they are not cleaning local and state parks.
Certain inmates -- murderers, rapists, child molesters and convicted gang members -- are barred from serving in the program. Arsonists are also forbidden from joining.
Typically, inmate firefighters are serving jail time for offenses such as domestic violence, drunk-driving or drug abuse.
The financial rewards for risking life and limb against wildfires are small, a mere 24 dollars a day. But for many the greater prize is the prospect of an early release parole and glowing references from correctional authorities.
Some released prisoners even end up becoming full-time firefighters, according to California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) captain Bryan Lee.
Lee, 37, has been fighting fires for 16 years as a civilian and is leading a 13-man inmate team tackling the Harris Fire, which has ripped through 75,000 acres in San Diego County.
"They're required to work hard, they're expected to work hard, and they do," Lee tells an AFP reporter. Lee said he knew of one former inmate firefighter who had gone on to become a captain.
While many ex-convicts say it is difficult to find work upon release from prison, the chance to prove themselves by saving lives and homes and the possibility of a career in firefighting is a powerful motivation.
"Oh I'd love to work at Cal Fire," says Gonzalez. "The good that we do -- hundreds of our fire lines are what stopped the fire from getting to the houses. It makes my prison time go by fast."
Working behind Gonzalez is Mike Keene, 23, who is to be paroled next February and is fighting fires to shorten his prison term. This is his first fire season and he is hoping it will be his last.
"It's all right," said Keene. "I'm just trying to get home and do my job. We've been on worse fires than this. I like doing this a lot better than being in a regular prison."
For Christopher Williams, 33, the opportunity to help fight fires from prison has given him a sense of pride after years of crimes committed to feed his drug habits.
"I'm not proud that I'm busted, but I'm doing something positive with myself," says Williams, who like many of his inmate colleagues has been working long hours with little relief.
Williams compared this week's firefighting effort to being on a high from drugs. "When I was using, I could be up for two or three days getting high," Williams said. "Now, I'm working on adrenaline. I wake up every morning now and I go to work every day."
For legal reasons, prison authorities were unable to give the specific offences of inmate firefighters interviewed by AFP.
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