The Bay

The ‘Brittle’ System of Incarcerated Firefighters

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California is low on firefighters at a really bad time. It’s partially because the state released thousands of incarcerated firefighters to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

But it’s also because this system of relying on incarcerated people to help fight fires — which we’ve had since after World War II — isn’t sustainable.

Guest: Kevin Stark, KQED science reporter

Recommended reading:

  • Rare Honors This Weekend for Inmate Firefighters Killed on the Job
  • Let's Talk About Wildfires and Prisons

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