Prison Inmates on Standby to Fight Fires

More inmates in Oregon's prisons are training to become firefighters.

During fire season, the Oregon Department of Forestry calls on fire crews to help fight fires throughout the state.

One of those crews is made up of prisoners from the Warner Creek Correctional Facility.

Early in the morning, fire crews are out working hard.

"Doing fire line contains the fire prevents it from coming down and doing any further damage," said D'Tanyum Huey, who is in the fire crew for his first season.

But there's no smoke, no flames in sight. It's all just practice and these aren't your average firefighters, they're prisoners, members of inmate fire crews at the minimum security Warner Creek Correctional Facility in Lakeview.

"I get asked every day when we're going out i say, well there's no fires," said Lieutenant Greg Ross, a Warner Creek Correctional Officer.

The program was started when the prison first opened. They now have five 10-person crews.

"The fact that inmates are doing things that can help them with their skills once they get out, that means probably they're not going to come back into the institution, they're ready to work and be responsible citizens once they get out," said Chuck Seeley, the Warner Creek Superintendent.

They get fifteen dollars a day for their work.

"Honestly this is something I never thought of doing on the street, never came to mind learn a lot of skills and trades that's useful," said Huey.

"This compliments our mission well keep inmates busy teach them skills, way we can provide service to community at same time," said Seeley.

Some say it breaks up the monotony of daily life in prison.

"It's good to be outside the gates, outside the walls, its always better to be out than in. When we're out here we're working that's for sure," Huey said.

After the inmates compete their training, they are certified as type to firefighters and that means when they get out of prison, they could be hired by any agency as a wild-land firefighter.

The fire crews haven't gone out on any fires yet this year, but were sent to four last year.

During the off season, they do other projects such as fuel reduction work, snow shoveling, and work to enhance natural resources.

Not all inmates are eligible, learn more about men who volunteer Friday, on News 10.