When wildfires broke out more than two weeks ago, Samuel and Florentino were harvesting strawberries in a field in Oxnard when they witnessed the all-too-familiar hazy gray skies and smell of smoke. did.
The men were more than 40 miles from the fire scene, but the combination of strong winds and smoke was enough to pollute the air. Despite having N95 masks, they could only last about two hours at work before returning home due to poor air quality.
The men provided only their first names to the Times, citing concerns about their job security.
This is not the first time wildfires have left field workers unable to make a living.
Samuel said he experienced a similar episode while fruit picking in Ventura County during the 2017-2018 Thomas Fire.
“The smoke was so bad that I had trouble breathing and had to be taken to the hospital. It felt like I couldn’t breathe,” he said.
The nearly 20,000-acre wildfire was 98% contained as of Tuesday, and had already destroyed 240 structures, damaged another 125 and destroyed about 3,000 acres of farmland.
Another problem caused by the fires is the loss of wages for field workers at fruit and vegetable farms in Ventura County.
Samuel and Florentino lost two full days’ wages, putting a heavy financial burden on them.
“If not you, who will make the money to pay for everything we need to survive?” Samuel said.
Ventura County officials are gathering information and resources for residents and farmers who have lost or damaged property, but there is no economic safety net for field workers due to their illegal immigration status, according to a local nonprofit group. It is said that there is no.
Preliminary estimates estimate agricultural losses from the fire, which destroyed avocado, citrus and raspberry fields and pastureland, to be more than $7 million, Ventura County Agriculture Commissioner Colin Bell said.
The majority of agricultural operations in Ventura County are small producers, who may not have crop insurance or may be underinsured, as fire insurance is not available on all farms. . Maureen McGuire, executive director of the Ventura County Farm Bureau, said California’s basic fire insurance program is limited to coverage for farm structures and is prohibitively expensive.
“People are really scared and are considering whether to go back to farming,” McGuire said.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture provides natural disaster relief programs to help eligible farmers repair damaged farmland, provide financial assistance, and provide emergency loans, depending on the situation.
Bell said that even with some disaster relief, the loss of land, crops and infrastructure such as sprinkler heads, valves, pipe fittings and hoses could set farmers back about six years or more. .
The impact on field workers could also be significant.
Primitiva Hernández, executive director of the 805 Undoku Fund, a joint venture of immigrant advocacy organizations in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, said more than 42,000 field workers in Ventura County are facing such hardships as they run out of crops to harvest. He said he would not receive a salary due to the disaster.
Three days after the fire broke out, 805 Undocufund began a needs assessment of frontline and domestic workers affected by the wildfires.
As of Thursday, more than 2,800 people had responded, 91% of them from field workers. Of all respondents, 72% said they had lost wages because they had to take time away from work to pick up their children due to air pollution or school closures, and 14% said they had been evacuated from their homes.
The organization has raised $150,000 to provide economic relief assistance of $500 each to 300 displaced families and farmworkers who have lost wages, but says, “This is not even close to the level needed. ” said Hernandez.
The average hourly wage for undocumented workers is about $16, according to the California Immigration Data Portal. A study of the economic contributions of undocumented workers in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties found that 20% of immigrants in Ventura County live below the poverty line.
Unlike U.S. citizens and green card holders, undocumented farmworkers are not eligible for federal unemployment or hazard benefits.
“They are [can’t] I can’t afford it [to] We get to work, even in incredibly dangerous conditions,” said Lucas Zucker, co-executive director of the Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy.
Hernandez said she learned from 805 Undocfund’s needs assessment that some farmworkers were told by their employers that working for three days after the fire was voluntary. But workers were not provided with any information about air quality, health risks or protective measures to help them make informed decisions for themselves, she said.
Some job sites, including Samuel and Florentino, acknowledged being given face coverings and provided masks and sign-in forms.
Florentino said working while wearing a face mask is difficult and slows down his normal pace. “The mask doesn’t fit properly and falls off, and sometimes it feels like there’s still smoke left in it,” he said.
Men feel that even a day’s work is essential. “It doesn’t matter if there’s a fire or a storm,” because without a paycheck we can’t pay rent, utilities, childcare, food, and other basic necessities, and “our livelihoods are taken away from us.” This is because “it will end up happening.” If you can’t pay your bills, go home,” Samuel said. “Even if we don’t want to work in these conditions, you [financial] Encourage them to continue working if necessary. ”
In September, Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed Senate Bill 227, which would have created an unemployment insurance-like program for undocumented workers.
During the first two days of the wildfire, some of the worst days for air quality, advocacy groups, the county Agriculture Commission, and the Ventura County Farm Bureau distributed N95 masks to many farm workers.
But Florentino and Samuel said there was still a lack of support to replace lost wages.
“I want people to understand where the support is going and where support is still needed,” Florentino said.
“I think your boss should take care of himself.” [employees] That way, the people can continue to work for him. Because if we don’t support our people, we will lose our crops,” he said.
