United States | News & Politics

Prison inmates have been drafted to help fight LA wildfires as infernos destroy almost 5,000 structures.

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) deployed 783 prison inmates, according to figures revealed by the department to CBS. The prisoners are incarcerated firefighters are involved with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) to assist its nearly 4,700 firefighters and work as paid volunteers.

The prisoners are paid depending on their skill level - earning between $5.80 and $10.24 per day. It comes as firefighters have achieved some containment of the Palisades Fire, officials say. The Palisades Fire, which started Tuesday and has burned through the seaside enclave of Pacific Palisades in Los Angeles, remained uncontained until Thursday evening, when officials said containment was at 6%.