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Good Question: Are Inmates Used To Fight California Wildfires?

(CBS 5) – Some of the state's inmates get to do time in the great outdoors, but it's not without risk. Danny Richards asked this Good Question: Are inmates still used to fight fires in California?

ANSWER: Cal Fire Deputy Chief Scott Jalbert said there are about three dozen inmate camps around the state that train individuals to fight wildland fires. Jalbert said the inmates are paid $1 a day to be on standby and $1 an hour while they are on the fire lines.

There are more than 4,000 inmates trained and available to fight fires in California.

(Copyright 2011 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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