California sent firefighters from Mexico as well as nearly 1,000 inmates to help fight the deadly forest fires has been blowing up in Los Angeles since last week.
“As of today, 939 Fire Camp firefighters are working around the clock cutting fire lines and removing fuel behind structures to slow the spread of the fire, including 110 support personnel,” California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) he told NPR on Friday.
California has used inmates to fight fires for more than a century, the paper said. CDCR says inmates voluntarily participate in the program and are paid $5.80 to $10.24 per day.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom also said Friday that firefighters from Mexico are on their way to help fight the wildfire in Eaton. Newsom did not say how many people Mexico has sent.
Newsom faced criticism after the wildfires, including after Newsweek reported that governor cut funding for wildfire and forest resilience for more than $100 million just a few months earlier.
Fire crews monitor the Palisades Fire in Mandeville Canyon on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Furthermore, Fox News Digital previously reported that the state’s Democratic leadership had cut funding to the Los Angeles Fire Department by $17.6 million just months before.
The number of dead related to the wildfires jumped to 16, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office. Five deaths were attributed to the Palisades Fire and 11 were the result of the Eaton Fire.
A man walks in front of the burning Altadena Community Church, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in the Altadena section of downtown Pasadena, California. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File)
As of Saturday night, the Palisades, Eaton, Kenneth and Hurst fires had consumed about 62 square miles, an area larger than San Francisco, Cal Fire said. The Palisades and Eaton fires — the two largest wildfires — have burned 59 square miles so far.
A firefighter battles the Palisades Fire in Mandeville Canyon on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Firefighters are still working to contain the Palisades and Eaton fires. Cal Fire reported the Palisades fire at 11% containment and the Eaton fire at 15% containment Saturday night.
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As the fight continues, the firefighters prepare for another round strong winds is expected starting Monday, emergency officials said.
Fox News Digital’s Alexandra Koch and Aubrie Spady, along with The Associated Press, contributed to this report.
