Kim Kardashian is shining a spotlight on the underpaid yet heroic efforts of incarcerated firefighters in California. The reality star and entrepreneur took to Instagram to urge Governor Gavin Newsom to address the inadequate wages these firefighters earn while risking their lives on the front lines of dangerous wildfires.
Highlighting the critical role these individuals play, Kardashian expressed her admiration and frustration over their meager pay of just $1 per hour… a rate that has remained unchanged since 1984.
“During all five fires in Los Angeles, there are hundreds of incarcerated firefighters risking their lives to save us,” Kardashian began in her heartfelt post. “They’re battling the Palisades fire and the Eaton fire in Pasadena, working grueling 24-hour shifts. They earn almost nothing, yet they risk everything… some even losing their lives… to protect our communities. I see them as heroes.”
She also addressed the lack of wage increases over the decades, even as wildfires have intensified. “The pay for incarcerated firefighters has remained stagnant for nearly 40 years. Despite an attempt this year to raise their hourly rate to $5, the proposal was ultimately rejected,” Kardashian lamented.
The SKIMS founder called on Governor Newsom to take decisive action, saying, “I urge @cagovernor to break this decades-long cycle of neglect and raise their pay to reflect the value of a human life… one that is courageously saving our homes and lives.”
Kardashian also acknowledged the contributions of formerly incarcerated firefighters who continue to serve after their release. “I want to thank the firefighters from the @calfire Ventura Training Center for saving my community when it started burning this week,” she wrote.
Thanks to legislative efforts like those from the Anti-Recidivism Coalition, formerly incarcerated individuals can now reduce their sentences through fire service, have felonies expunged from their records, and even secure high-paying jobs in fire departments upon their release.
