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cover of episode Incarcerated Women Firefighters Spotlighted in “Fire Escape” Podcast

Incarcerated Women Firefighters Spotlighted in “Fire Escape” Podcast

2025/2/7
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KQED's Forum
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This chapter introduces Amika Mota, an incarcerated woman who became a firefighter in Chowchilla's women's prison. It details the unique nature of their firefighting work, which included responding to incidents both inside and outside the prison, and contrasts the conditions of the firehouse with those of the main prison.
  • Amika Mota's experience as an incarcerated firefighter
  • Chowchilla Women's Prison location and conditions
  • The unique training and responsibilities of the inmate firefighting crew at Station 5
  • Significant difference between firehouse and prison life

Shownotes Transcript

“Fire Escape,” a new podcast from Snap Judgment and KQED, follows the story of Amika Mota, who while serving a nine-year prison sentence, joins an all-women firefighting crew. They fight wildfires. And serve as the remote prison community’s primary emergency response team. Her experience offers her a path for redemption, but also raises troubling issues about how we use prison labor. We talk to Mota and other formerly incarcerated firefighters about their experience.

Guests:

**Anna Sussman, **senior producer and managing editor, Snap Judgment

**Amika Mota, **Executive Director and Founding Member, Sister Warriors Freedom Coalition

**Laquisha Johnson, **former member of wildland fire camp