At least five people have been killed, thousands of structures destroyed and nearly 180,000 people ordered to evacuate their homes, officials said.

But more broadly, civil rights organisations and justice advocates have long decried the “exploitation” of incarcerated workers in the United States, saying they are under the complete control of their employers, stripped of minimal protection and typically earn little pay.

California’s ‘fire camps’

“The work of our incarcerated firefighters and staff is an essential part of this effort, and their commitment to protecting lives and property during these emergencies cannot be overstated.”

According to a 2018 Time Magazine report, incarcerated firefighters were four times more likely to sustain injuries compared with professional firefighters working on the same fires.

Incarcerated workers ‘typically earn little to no pay at all’

“But there are two crucial differences: Incarcerated workers are under the complete control of their employers, and they have been stripped of even the most minimal protections against labor exploitation and abuse.”

“Even so, many consider themselves lucky to receive these low wages.”