It's burning again.
Russ is dodging ash and living under a yellow sky. Just 2020 things I guess.
Fun side effect of covid - the fire departments out here are pretty reliant on inmate fire crews from the local prisons, and most of them are out of commission due to outbreaks.
Yeah, its a big thing in California. As I understand it inmates earn relatively high wages, but its crazy dangerous and they usually can't get jobs when they get out.
-Formerly Stabulator
I worked with a guy who was an inmate firefighter. He loved it, but the fact that he got a job after getting out was unusual. He had a great paying job at a small (read 30 or so people) health IT company and did well, but still had the felony on his record so he basically was screwed if and when he lost that job. Last I heard that company had gone under and he was trying to start up his own business while also trying to get the felony stricken from his record.
This is a touch obscure, but the drug mule in the Delorean case ended up becoming an inmate firefighter in California. He has a few chapters in his book about the experience of it.
https://www.amazon.com/DeLoreans-Sha.../dp/0979957567
Stephen was recently pardoned (by Obama) for his involvement in the Delorean stuff.
Speaking of inmate firefighters, just found out about this fun thing.
As an inmate, Jeffrey Choate fought wildfires. Now that he's served his sentence, he can't become a firefighter because of his criminal record.
(I'd link to the article, but turns out it's behind a paywall)