Prisoners train to fight wildfires
Prisoners train to fight wildfires
12 July 2006
published by www.rapidcityjournal.com
Rapid City, SD, USA — Twenty-eight minimum-security inmates recently completed a week of training to become certified firefighters in the Black Hills.
Crews of state prisoners have helped fight forest fires for several years in western South Dakota.
Jim Strain of the state Wildland fire-suppression division said Corrections Department firefighters have played important roles in the past and already have helped fight several small blazes this year in the Black Hills.
Department of Corrections firefighters are really an important asset, Strain said. Theyre a handy resource for us to use, and the men like coming out and working the fire line. And its a good deal for everybody.
