A female inmate was seriously injured Thursday morning while fighting a wildfire near Malibu in southern California. Reportedly she was struck by a rolling rock and was hoisted into a helicopter and transported to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, where her condition was later upgraded from critical to serious.
The 22-year-old inmate was a member of Fire Camp 13, an all-female facility.
The fire was reported around 3 a.m. in steep terrain about two miles north of the Pacific Coast Highway.
A total of 63 inmates divided into five work crews were battling the fire, according to Bill Sessa, a spokesperson for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR).
From the LA Times:
Of the roughly 4,000 inmates housed in 44 conservation camps across the state, only a couple hundred are women.
The female inmate who was injured Thursday had come from the LA County jail system, and had been with the Malibu conservation camp since August, Sessa said.
The CDCR likes to say that only non-violent prisoners are allowed to work on inmate fire crews, but as was discovered last year, the agency’s definition of “violent” is different from the public’s perception.
UPDATE: *Brush Fire* #Malibu is at 10 acres with 75% containment.
— LACounty Fire PIO (@LACoFDPIO) February 25, 2016
Thanks and a tip of the hat go out to Tom.
What does this
‘The CDCR likes to say that only non-violent prisoners are allowed to work on inmate fire crews, but as was discovered last year, the agency’s definition of “violent” is different from the public’s perception.”
have to do with anything?
It’s insensitive and irrelevant. It’s a distraction.
A young firefighter just died in the line of duty. This is time for folks to take a moment and reflect on this tragedy.
The editorializing on what the State of California does with its inmate programs-which are a valuable asset-can be done elsewhere.
To be fair, this article was written the day before the death was reported. At that time the information was that her condition had improved from critical to serious.
As we said the next day when writing about the fatality, our sincere condolences go out to the friends and family of Ms. Jones.
Bill Thank You for your great coverage of Wildfire Incidents.. jp