Kim Kardashian is calling for incarcerated firefighters to receive better pay as they help fight the ongoing Los Angeles wildfires.
In a lengthy statement made on her Instagram Story on Saturday night, 44-year-old Kardashian thanked local officials and first responders for their efforts to extinguish the catastrophic wildfires that have been burning through the L.A. area since Jan. 7.
“I have spent the last week watching my city burning. And have seen and spoken to many firefighters who are up all night long using every ounce of their strength to save our community,” the business mogul wrote. “Thank you to @calfire LA County Fire and Los Angeles City Fire for everything you are doing to save lives, homes and property.”
According to CBS News, the fires have killed at least 16 people and destroyed more than 12,000 structures, leaving more than 150,000 people in Los Angeles County under evacuation orders.
Crews from California and other U.S. states, Canada, and Mexico form part of the response operation. Among those fighting the blazes are incarcerated California inmates.
A representative for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation told Complex that 783 Fire Camp firefighters were “working around the clock” as of last Thursday.
“On all 5 fires in Los Angeles, there are hundreds of incarcerated firefighters, risking their lives to save us," Kardashian wrote. "They are on the Palisades fire and Eaton fire in Pasadena working 24 hour shifts. They get paid almost nothing, risk their lives, some have died, to prove to the community that they have changed and are now first responders. I see them as heroes."
She continued, “The incarcerated firefighters have been paid $1/hour to risk their lives, and this pay has been the same since 1984. It has never been raised with inflation. It's never been raised when fires got worse and many died.”
While there are no reports of firefighter deaths in the Los Angeles wildfires, a 2022 American Civil Liberties Union report that found four incarcerated firefighters had been killed and over 1,000 injured while working within a four-year period.
The reality show star cited an agreement to raise incarcerated firefighter pay to $5 per hour that “got shot down last minute.” She then called on California Gov. Gavin Newsom to remedy the matter.
“I am urging @cagovernor to do what no Governor has done in 4 decades, and raise the incarcerated firefighter pay to a rate the [sic] honors a human being risking their life to save our lives and homes,” Kardashian added.
She also thanked formerly incarcerated firefighters from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s Ventura Training Center, writing, “These are all FORMERLY incarcerated firefighters who have come home, and want to continue serving our community as firefighters."
“Due to bills passed by @antirecidivismcoalition, these guys can now get their sentences reduced, expunging the felonies from their records for their fire service. And when they come home can get six figure jobs working for the fire departments,” she added.
Last week, Chris Brown made similar comments on his Instagram Story, writing, "LA...Make sure yall throw a ceremony or parade for these firefighters and first responders after this. Also, the prisoners who were out there risking their lives need time knocked off their sentences. Just saying.”
Meek Mill co-signed Brown’s sentiment by sharing it on X and writing, “Most definitely!"