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Supervisors to explore use of inmates for brush clearing

Efforts to prevent wildfires by clearing brush might have the help of local inmate work crews if a San Diego County Board of Supervisors proposal comes to fruition.

The supervisors voted 5-0 September 25 to direct the county’s Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to explore the feasibility of utilizing inmates in county detention facilities to perform clearing of brush deemed to be a fire hazard. The CAO will work with the county’s Sheriff’s Department, the county’s Probation Department, and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to explore the possibility of using the inmates for that part of the county’s vegetation management program. The CAO was also directed to report back to the board within 90 days on the proposal including expected initial and ongoing costs, the impact on county resources and operations, and possible training through partner agencies.

“Today’s action will answer many of the questions,” said Supervisor Dianne Jacob. “We know that defensible space is one of the best ways to protect lives and property, but providing defensible space is a constant challenge.”

Prior to the consolidation of adult detentions into the Sheriff’s Department, the Probation Department operated work camps which provided inmate work crews for projects within the region. The work crews had the training and equipment for an intensive brush clearing program, but eventually that program was deemed not to be cost-effective. The supervisors’ request includes determining whether the same level of work might be accomplished at a lower cost.

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection has inmate work camps and crews which perform heavy brush clearing and respond to wildland fire incidents, and the success of those crews created the desire by the county to participate in a potential expansion of that program.

 

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