Travis Barker Pays a Visit to Incarcerated Firefighters amid L.A. Fires

Travis Barker is showing his appreciation to those on the front lines fighting the devastating Los Angeles wildfires.

On Tuesday, Jan. 21, the Blink-182 drummer, 49, took to his Instagram Stories to share a series of images of himself at the Rose Bowl Complex in Pasadena, Calif., meeting up with incarcerated firefighters, National Guard members, Anti-Recidivism Coalition representatives and other first responders.

The first image, a repost from film producer and criminal justice reformer Scott Budnick, showed Barker donning a black-and-white zip-up hoodie and graphic T-shirt while sitting at a large wooden table outdoors surrounded by members of the Growlersburg Fire Crew, a division of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) that employs incarcerated individuals as firefighters.

“@travisbarker you are a real one! Thank you for stopping by and showing love as soon as they got off the fire! #growlersberg33,” Budnick captioned the aforementioned image.

In the next shot, Barker can be seen posing for a black-and-white snap with CDCR Lieutenant Hill, with the musician writing, “Thank you for having me … So much respect for you and what you do.”

In the following image, Barker appears alongside a group of National Guard members, throwing up a piece sign and captioning the image, “So much love to our National Guard for all their hard work.”

In his final story post, Barker shared a fisheye image of himself with members of the Growlersburg Fire Crew, alongside a passionate message advocating for the work the unit does with incarcerated individuals.

“These guys are heroes,” he wrote. “They are risking their lives to serve people. Save people. Help people. And becoming men in the process. So much love and respect to @calfire and @scottbudnick1 I love the awareness that the anti recidivism coalition is bringing to the incarcerated guys working these fires. A lot of them came from the juvenile system and this program gives them the ability for real change and to make a difference. To see the humanity in all of them was amazing.”

As of Jan. 10, the CDCR has enlisted over 800 inmates who volunteered to help fight the California wildfires, according to ABC News.

In a statement shared with PEOPLE, CDCR secretary Jeff Macomber highlighted, “Wildfires are a constant and formidable challenge for California, and CDCR conservation fire camps remain dedicated to supporting the state’s response. The work of our incarcerated firefighters and staff is an essential part of this effort, and their commitment to protecting lives and property during these emergencies cannot be overstated.”

According to the CDCR, inmates are paid a daily wage between $5.80 and $10.24, plus an additional $1 per hour when they respond to active fire or fire-related emergencies. Furthermore, crews could work up to a 24-hour shift during emergencies, but are compensated during rest periods.

Barker isn’t the only celebrity who has called attention to the work that incarcerated firefighters are doing amid the ongoing wildfires.

The drummer’s sister-in-law, Kim Kardashian, has been outspoken about her belief that incarcerated firefighters deserve higher pay, calling on California Governor Gavin Newsom to “do what no Governor has done in 4 decades and raise the incarcerated firefighter pay to a rate [that] honors a human being risking their life to save our lives and homes,” per the Los Angeles Times.