In the fight against the flaming inferno in the greater Los Angeles area, the firefighters who are constantly on duty receive support not only from comrades from other states and abroad, but also from hundreds of prisoners.
About 900 prisoners who have undergone several days of training have been in action since Friday. Their duties include creating fire breaks and removing burning material such as fallen trees. They receive the equivalent of a maximum of 9.99 euros per day for their work. For emergency operations, a reimbursement of slightly less than one euro per hour is provided.
Only certain prisoners are allowed to help
For every day you work as a rescue worker, your prison sentence is reduced by two days. Only prisoners serving a maximum prison sentence of eight years and not serving time for crimes such as rape or arson may be used as helpers.
It will certainly take many more days before the prisoners’ relief mission can be completed. Because the devastating wildfires in and around Los Angeles have spread again. On Saturday, flames spread further east and north from the Pacific Palisades district, including toward the densely populated San Fernando Valley. The death toll has risen to at least 16, according to the Los Angeles County coroner’s office.
Images from the Mandeville Canyon area northeast of Pacific Palisades showed a wall of flames moving up a hill and threatening several homes. After winds subsided in recent days, the National Weather Service warned of weather conditions that could spark more fires or cause existing fires to spread.
Authorities warn of polluted air
The fires also noticeably worsen air quality in the Los Angeles area. The Los Angeles County Health Department advised residents to leave their homes as little as possible. Anyone who has to work outdoors must use an N95 mask – which corresponds to the FFP2 standard in Europe. The district declared a public health emergency on Friday due to increased air pollution caused by the fires.
Meanwhile, debate continued over who was responsible for the extent of the fires. Future Republican President Donald Trump accused authorities in Democratic-run California of “incompetence” in fighting the fires. Authorities simply could not extinguish the fires, he wrote in his online service Truth Social. “What’s the matter with them?” Trump asked.
Arrest at Kamala Harris’ home
Under-fire Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass assured on Saturday that all authorities are working together to fight the fire. The Los Angeles fire chief had previously criticized the fire department’s inadequate funding.
To prevent looting, a nightly curfew remained in effect in Pacific Palisades and Altadena. Two people were arrested for violating curfew near Vice President Kamala Harris’ home in Brentwood. According to media reports, police had previously received information about burglaries in the area.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
