California has sent firefighters and about 1,000 prison inmates from Mexico to help fight deadly wildfires that have been exploding across Los Angeles since last week.
“As of today, 939 firefighters at the fire camp are working around the clock to cut fire lines and remove fuel from behind buildings to slow the spread of the fire. This includes staff,” the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) said. told NPR on friday.
The state of California has used inmates to fight fires for more than a century, the paper said. Inmates participate in the program voluntarily and are paid between $5.80 and $10.24 per day, according to CDCR.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom also said Friday that firefighters are on the way from Mexico to help fight the Eaton wildfire. Newsom did not provide details on how many people Mexico was sending.
Live updates: Los Angeles wildfires, death toll rises to 16 as Gavin Newsom faces new fire funding oversight
Mr. Newsom has faced criticism in the wake of the wildfires, including when Newsweek reported that the governor cut funding for wildfire and forest resilience by more than $100 million several months ago. exposed to
Firefighters monitor the Palisades Fire in Mandeville Canyon on Saturday, January 11, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Additionally, Fox News Digital previously reported that the state's Democratic leadership cut the Los Angeles Fire Department's budget by $17.6 million just a few months ago.
The number of wildfire-related deaths has jumped to 16, according to the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office. Five of the deaths were attributed to the Palisades fire and 11 were attributed to the Eaton fire.
A man walks past the burning Altadena Community Church on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, in the Altadena neighborhood of downtown Pasadena, California. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File)
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As of Saturday evening, the Palisades, Eaton, Kenneth and Hearst fires had burned about 62 square miles, an area larger than San Francisco, Cal Fire said. Two major wildfires, the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire, have burned 59 square miles.
Firefighters battle the Palisades Fire in Mandeville Canyon on Saturday, January 11, 2025 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Firefighters are still working to extinguish the Palisades and Eaton fires. Cal Fire reported Saturday night that the Palisades Fire was 11% contained and the Eaton Fire was 15% contained.
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The fighting is expected to continue and firefighters are bracing for more strong winds expected starting Monday, emergency officials said.
Fox News Digital's Alexandra Koch and Aubrie Spady and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
