Hundreds of incarcerated firefighters, who are trained to respond to emergencies and disasters, were reportedly deployed in Los Angeles.

Among the thousands of boots on the ground battling the wildfires in Los Angeles are hundreds of incarcerated individuals — a fact that has renewed attention on California's longstanding, but controversial inmate firefighter program.

The Eaton Fire burns vehicles and structures Wednesday in Altadena, Calif. The Palisades Fire burns a Christmas tree inside a residence in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles. A resident of a senior center is evacuated as the Eaton Fire approaches Tuesday in Altadena, Calif.