Kim Kardashian gave a special shoutout to the trapped firefighters battling the devastating wildfires spreading across Southern California.
The 44-year-old TV personality – who has been branded ‘wasteful’ along with other stars for breaking water-saving rules – shared a post to her Instagram stories on Saturday as the fires continue to rage.
The catastrophic infernos — including the Pacific Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire — flared up amid high winds earlier this week on Tuesday, with the death toll rising to 16 as of Saturday, per NBC News.
She wrote: “I have watched my city burn this past week. And I have seen and spoken to many firefighters who are up all night, using all their strength to save our community.”
“Thank you to @calfire la County Fire and Los Angeles City Fire for all you do to save lives, homes and property.”
In another slide, the reality star added, “All five fires in Los Angeles have hundreds of firefighters trapped, risking their lives to save us.”
Kim Kardashian, 44, gave a special shout out to trapped firefighters battling the devastating wildfires spreading across Southern California; seen in September 2024 in NYC
“Thank you to @calfire la County Fire and Los Angeles City Fire for all you do to save lives, homes and property,” she wrote; firefighters seen Friday in Pacific Palisades
Kardashian said they “work 24 hours a day” at both the Palisades and the Eaton Fires.
“They get paid next to nothing, risk their lives, some have died, to prove to the community that they have changed and are now first responders. I see them as heroes.’
She explained to her followers that since 1984, incarcerated firefighters have been paid $1 an hour “for risking their lives.”
“It has never increased with inflation,” Kim noted. “It was never brought up as the fires got worse and many died.”
“This year there was an agreement to increase inmate firefighter pay to $5/hour, but that was shot down at the last minute.”
Kardashian then referenced California Governor Gavin Newson, writing: “I urge @cagovernor to do what no governor has done in four decades…”
“And increase inmate firefighter pay to a rate that honors a human being who risks his life to save our lives and homes.”
Finally, the mother of four also expressed her gratitude to the firefighters who helped save her community, which was threatened by the Kenneth Fire that started Thursday.
The TV personality shared the message on her Instagram stories on Saturday as the fires continue to rage
Kardashian said they “work 24 hours a day” at both the Palisades and the Eaton Fires
Kardashian then referenced California Governor Gavin Newson, writing: ‘I urge @cagovernor to do what no governor has done in four decades…’; Newsom seen Wednesday in Pacific Palisades
Finally, the mother of four also expressed her gratitude to the firefighters who helped save her community, which was threatened by the Kenneth Fire that started Thursday.
Kim and her family were evacuated from their mansions in Calabasas and Hidden Hills due to the fire, but evacuation orders were later lifted.
The Kenneth fire is now 80% contained and an arson suspect was arrested this week, prompting Khloe Kardashian to express her angry response on social media.
“I want to thank the firefighters at the @calfire Ventura Training Center for saving my community when it started burning this week,” Kim wrote.
“These are all FORMER inmate firefighters who have come home and want to continue serving our community as firefighters.”
She said: ‘Thanks to the bills passed by @antirecidivismcoalition, these boys can now have their sentences reduced, removing the offenses from their records for their fire service.’
Finally, Kim added, “And when they get home, they can get six-figure jobs in the fire department.”
The founder of SKIMS has spoken out many times over the years and has been an activist for criminal justice reform.
In August 2024, Sister Kendall Jenner visited the inmate firefighters at the Pine Grove and Growlersberg Fire Camps.
Kim and her family had been evacuated from their mansions in Calabasas and Hidden Hills due to the fire, but evacuation orders were later lifted; seen in 2018 in Santa Monica
In August 2024, Sister Kendall Jenner visited the inmate firefighters at the Pine Grove and Growlersberg Fire Camps.
In addition to sharing photos of the visit, Kim wrote about meeting the “incredible” inmate firefighters who are “working so hard fighting these fires in California.”
It comes as anger against ‘wasteful, entitled’ celebrities grew this week as stars including Kim were accused of wasting vital water resources that could have been used to save homes.
Strict water-saving measures have been in place since 2022, with ‘ordinary’ residents being allowed to water their gardens twice a week for eight minutes.
Kardashian, who lives in a $60 million home in The Oaks — an exclusive gated community near the epicenter of one of this week’s fires — was fined by the city council that year for using 232,000 more gallons of water than she was allotted.
Other celebrities, including Sylvester Stallone and comedian Kevin Hart, were also fined.
The Mail on Sunday understands that the Kardashians star has now taken water-saving measures.
A neighbor of Kim’s told the Mail on Sunday: ‘These celebrities feel entitled.’
‘Everyone was told that they had to cut back on water specifically for this situation, to save it for fighting fires. They kept giving water because they could pay the fines.”
It comes as anger against ‘wasteful, entitled’ celebrities grew this week as stars including Kim were accused of wasting vital water resources that could have been used to save homes; seen in November 2024 in LA
Anger also grew against wealthy people who hired private firefighters for $2,000 an hour to protect their property.
Chris Dunn, owner of Covered 6 – which provides the service to Hollywood’s elite – told the Mail on Sunday: ‘My phone is ringing off the hook. Demand has never been higher.’
A wealthy source said: “This week’s events have shown that you cannot trust the city to protect your property. I have the money, so why not?’
Kim was also criticized for advertising an upcoming sale of her SKIMS brand on Wednesday as the fires continued to rage.
Earlier this week on Tuesday, catastrophic fires started amid strong Santa Ana winds, destroying more than 10,000 structures and raising the death toll to 16 as of Saturday, according to NBC.
The Palisades Fire alone — which started Tuesday morning — is estimated to have destroyed about 5,300 structures, including homes, churches and schools.
A number of residents and stars lost their homes this week, including Miles Teller, Mel Gibson and Paris Hilton.
In total, about 22,660 acres were destroyed by the Palisades fire as of Saturday evening, NBC reported.
Anger also grew against wealthy people who hired private firefighters for $2,000 an hour to protect their property; taken on Saturday in Mandeville Canyon
1,680 National Guard troops have gone to Southern California to provide relief – the death toll now rises to 16; taken on Saturday in Pacific Palisades
More than 100,000 people are still under evacuation orders as firefighters continue to extinguish fires across Southern California – with winds expected to pick up again early next week.
Aside from the Palisades and Eaton fires, other infernos have since started this week, such as the Kenneth Fire and Hurst Fire.
On Saturday, firefighters worked to contain the Palisades fire near Brentwood.
1,680 National Guard troops have gone to Southern California to provide relief – the death toll now rises to 16.