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Nonprofit aids ex-convicts becoming firefighters, addressing California's firefighting labor shortage.
A nonprofit, Future Fire Academy, founded by former convict and firefighter Anthony Pedro, aids aspiring firefighters with criminal records by providing training and funding.
California relies heavily on incarcerated firefighters to combat wildfires, facing labor shortages.
These incarcerated firefighters make up to 30% of the state's firefighting force, working for as little as $10 a day.
While critics argue this exploits prisoners, supporters see it as a path to firefighting careers and community service upon release.
California has made efforts to ease entry into firefighting for those with records, including expunging their records.
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