Kim Kardashian has focused her attention on the valuable work of incarcerated firefighters who are fighting the wildfires ravaging Los Angeles.
In a recent post on her social media, the businesswoman and media personality expressed her admiration for the over 800 prisoners who are risking their lives to fight the fires, particularly in the cases of the Palisades and Eaton, which have burned more than 37,000 acres since January 7, 2025.
Kardashian publicly requested a salary increase, emphasizing that these individuals deserve fairer compensation for the work they do.
Call to Action to the Governor of California
Through a post on her Instagram story, Kardashian expressed that she had witnessed the devastation in her city, mentioning the difficulty and sacrifice of the firefighters.
“I have spent the last week watching my city burn. I have spoken with many firefighters who do not sleep, using all their strength to save our community,” he wrote.
Next, he directed his message to the imprisoned firefighters: “In the five fires in Los Angeles, there are hundreds of firefighters imprisoned, risking their lives to save us.”
“They work 24-hour shifts, risk their lives, some have died, to show that they have changed and are now first responders. I see them as heroes.”
Salary conditions
Despite the magnitude of their work, incarcerated firefighters receive minimal compensation. According to the California Department of Corrections, prisoner firefighters earn only $10.24 per day, with an additional $1 per hour during emergencies.
Some reforms introduced in April of last year establish that lower-ranking firefighters earn only $5.80 a day. This has been a subject of controversy, as many prisoners feel trapped in an ethical dilemma, since although the job of a firefighter is one of the most desired, involuntary servitude as punishment remains legal according to the U.S. Constitution.
Request for a salary increase
Kardashian urged Governor Gavin Newsom to take historic measures to increase the pay of incarcerated firefighters to a rate that reflects the risk and sacrifice involved in their work.
“I am urging the governor of California to do what no governor has done in 40 years and raise the salary of incarcerated firefighters to a rate that honors the human life of those who risk their lives to save our lives and our homes,” he wrote.