Inmate Crews At SCC Gearing Up For Fire Season

Sonora, CA — With fire season just around the corner the CDF is not alone when it comes to preparation.

Sierra Conservation Center Warden Tony Malfi says the inmate crews are gearing up as well. The new Warden says there are 19 fire camps attached to the prison and each contains 100 to 120 inmates.

Malfi says during the off-season the inmates do a lot of restoration work in the woods, saving the taxpayers millions of dollars. He says that although the men are criminals, the ones eligible for the fire camp programs are relatively harmless.

Malfi says the men can have no history of sexual or violent crimes, no capitol offenses, and ,of course, no arson charges. More information about the Sierra Conservation Center can be heard this Sunday morning on Mother Lode Views. An archive of the program will be available on MyMotherLode.com from the Tuesday following the program. MyMotherLode.com Live Audio

Written by Sabrina Sabbagh