Nevada inmate crews to battle Southern California fires

The Nevada Department of Corrections and Nevada Division of Forestry have deployed six fire crews to assist in fighting the fires raging through Southern California. The inmate crews, each made up of strictly minimum security inmates, are in route from Stewart Camp in Carson City, Pioche, Ely and Jean camps, and Three Lakes Valley Camp located approximately 30 miles north of Las Vegas. The 126 inmates, 105 males and 21 females, will be working the Thomas fire in Ventura, Calif.

“Our hearts go out to those who are affected by the fires in California,” stated NDOC Director James Dzurenda. “Our camp officers and inmate firefighters are trained and prepared for this type of deployment. We are here to help.”

The NDOC runs nine conservation camps in the state in corroboration with the NDF. At the camps inmates are trained to fight wildland fires, assist with snow removal and weed abatement, handle general clean-up and are involved with many other community efforts as needed. According to the NDF website, over the past three years all the conservation camps averaged 460,000 hours working on emergency incidents each year