The Incarcerated Women Fighting California’s Fires: Santa Monica National Recreation Area

The Incarcerated Women Fighting California’s Fires: Santa Monica National Recreation Area

From National Park After Dark by National Park After Dark

April 27, 2026 · 1h 4m · Episode 370

About this episode

This episode explores the experiences of incarcerated women fighting wildfires in California, highlighting the risks and realities of their situation.

Across California, incarcerated women are sent to the frontlines of wildfires, risking their lives for a chance at reduced sentences and a small paycheck. On Malibu 13-3, an all-women fire crew, the work was brutal, the stakes were high, and the bond between crew members ran deep. When a falling boulder killed one of their own, it exposed the reality behind the program, the risks, the lack of protection, and the lives forever changed in its wake. For a full list of our sources, visit npadpodcast.com/episodes For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials: Instagram: @‌nationalparkafterdarkTikTok: @‌nationalparkafterdark Support the show by becoming an Outsider and receive ad free listening, bonus content and more on Patreon or Apple Podcasts. Want to see our faces? Catch full episodes on our YouTube Page! Thank you to this week’s partners! Become a Fora Advisor today at https://www.foratravel.com/npad If you like your money, Mint Mobile is for you. Shop plans at https://www.mintmobile.com/npad Born from over a decade of longevity research, OneSkin’s OS-1 Peptide™ is proven to target the visible signs of aging…

People in this episode

Host: National Park After Dark

Topics covered

  • incarceration
  • wildfires
  • women's rights
  • firefighting
  • California
  • criminal justice
  • community

Keywords

  • incarcerated women
  • California wildfires
  • fire crew
  • Malibu 13-3
  • criminal justice reform
  • firefighting risks
  • Santa Monica National Recreation Area

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Malibu 13-3

Places: California, Santa Monica National Recreation Area

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