Charlene White claims some of the hero fire-fighters battling the blazes in California are earning a tiny amount of money as they continue to put their lives as risk
Heartbroken Loose Women star Charlene White has taken to social media to share her shock at the pay of some fire-fighters in LA.
As death toll from the California wildfires rises to 24, she shared a video of the ‘incarcerated fire fighters battling the LA fires’ where the brave servicemen are risking their lives. Charlene has been doing some research and was stunned to see many of those on the frontline are actually prisoners.
Posting on Instagram, the ITV star wrote: “Most enlightening fact I’ve learned this morning. Each year up to 30% of California wildfire-fighters are prisoners. Almost a thousand of whom have been fighting the current devastating fires… earning as little as £22.10 for a 24-hour shift.”
Many celebrities homes have been burned downed in the LA wildfires with Paris Hilton and Anthony Hopkins some of those to have suffered. Mark Hamill, the 73-year-old Star Wars, icon confirmed last week that he has evacuated his Malibu home with his wife and their dog.
Hollywood icon Mel Gibson’s house burned down while he was blasting the California governor. But when Mel, 69, was recording the podcast, the fires tore down his mansion in Malibu. Shocking photographs show the site reduced to rubble, scenes said to have “devastated” the actor and filmmaker.
Speaking amid the aftermath, Gibson told NewsNation’s Elizabeth Vargas Reports: “When I got home, sure enough, it wasn’t there. I had never seen such a complete burn. It is obviously devastating, it’s emotional. I lived there for about 15 years so it was home to me.
“There was nothing left but a chimney and a few roof tiles, and you dare not walk around for the nails and the whole deal. The vehicles were gone, everything.”
Mel, who won two Oscars for his work on Braveheart in 1996, had ripped into the California governor on Rogan’s podcast saying he felt Newsom did not follow through on things he said he would do to help prevent wildfires when he first took office six years ago.
“In 2019, I think Newsom said, ‘I’m going to take care of the forest and maintain the forest’ and do all that kind of stuff. I think all our tax dollars probably went for Gavin’s hair gel. It’s sad. The place is just on fire,” Gibson, known for his action hero roles, said during his chat with 57-year-old comedian Joe Rogan.
“Unfortunately, we’re going right back into red flag conditions with some potential disastrous wind conditions between now and Wednesday, with the peak winds expected to be on Tuesday,” Pasadena fire chief Chad Augustin told the BBC. “While we’re making some progress, the end is not even close yet,” he said.
