As  USA Today reported, three wildfire outbreaks — the Palisades Fire, the Eaton Fire and the Hurst Fire — occurred in the Los Angeles area on Jan. 6. The situation escalated so quickly that folks living in danger zones were forced to evacuate. As of Friday, over 10,000 homes, businesses, vehicles and other properties are damaged or completely burned down.

On Jan. 9, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation shared that 783 incarcerated people from their firefighter training camps have been on the ground to help cease the wildfires, according to The Guardian. They are part of a built-in program with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. At times, CDCR teams have made up as much as 30% of the state’s wildfire response force.

“As of today, 783 Fire Camp firefighters have been working around the clock cutting fire lines and removing fuel from behind structures to slow fire spread, including 88 support staff,” CDCR told NPR in a statement.

WGBH.org reported that “California has relied on incarcerated firefighters since 1915.” The imprisoned people cannot be in the middle of serving a sentence longer than eight years — and those with charges of sex offenses and arson are automatically ruled out.

Although the incarcerated people receive proper training, they fail to land jobs at fire stations once released. However, CDCR states that they can earn emergency response certifications and may be eligible for expedited record expungement upon release. A specialized 18-month training program also equips them with the necessary skills to apply for entry-level firefighting positions. Furthermore, having a felony conviction does not prevent them from seeking employment with Cal Fire.

Officials are still investigating the initial cause of the dangerous wildfires.

“The combination of low humidity, dry fuels and shifting winds has heightened the potential for spot fires and rapid expansion,” Cal Fire said in an update per USA Today.