I'm seeing several news outlets reporting stories (that are now trending on twitter) that California is low on firefighters right now because inmates who typically help with wildfires are sick with COVID-19.

That's factually wrong.

In July, many inmate crews were quarantined after potential exposure to the coronavirus. But those lockdowns have all been lifted.

Per CDCR: "There are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state’s Conservation Camp Program and there are no conservation camps on quarantine."

There are currently more than 1,300 inmate firefighters battling 19 fires across California. Story TK @KQEDnews @KQEDscience

A little more on this...in early July as the coronavirus swept through the prison system, California ordered the early release of thousands of prisoners to slow the spread of COVID-19, losing hundreds of firefighters in the process.

In July, Gov. Gavin Newsom authorized $72 million to hire 858 extra seasonal firefighters to cover the inmate shortage.

Asked about it at a news conference today, he said that nearly all of those hires are on the firelines.

This is the trending topic that set me off...BTW...