That is the definition of exploitation: The incarcerated firefighters have no better option, so they are compelled to take wages and conditions that nobody else would consider taking (evidence: the governemnt can't find people to freely take those wages and conditions).<p>There's no reason these people shouldn't be paid as much as others doing the same work. Californians complain about the fire response (with some propaganda thrown in, as is the case for everything these days), but are so cheap, so unwilling to pay, they they have to take people out of prisons and exploit them - for firefighting! This isn't cleaning highways; the consequences are overwhelming.<p>If Calinfornians won't pay for it, it's really their own problem.