OR: Prisoners Fight Forest Fires
August 22, 2007 - 2:20pm
This year, the Oregon Department of Forestry trained 200 minimum security prisoners, all men, to fight forest fires. So far this summer, 180 prisoners and 24 staff fought the Shelton fire near Fossil. Thirty-five prisoners worked on the Battlecreek fire near Joseph, and 40 prisoners are fighting the Ukiah Complex fire in central Oregon. Along with fire fighting, prisoners also work at the base camp cooking food and picking up garbage.
Oregon Department of Correction’s fire fighting program began in 2000. The Oregon Department of Forestry provides 40 hours of fire fighting training and instruction. Prisoners are paid $6.25 a day and those interviewed in the article hoped the training and experience could translate into jobs after prison.
This news brief is based on a story in the Argus Observer, A Helping Hand, and on the Oregon Department of Corrections web site. If the links are broken, check the websites’ archives.
Oregon Department of Correction’s fire fighting program began in 2000. The Oregon Department of Forestry provides 40 hours of fire fighting training and instruction. Prisoners are paid $6.25 a day and those interviewed in the article hoped the training and experience could translate into jobs after prison.
This news brief is based on a story in the Argus Observer, A Helping Hand, and on the Oregon Department of Corrections web site. If the links are broken, check the websites’ archives.
