Sheriff John McMahon addresses 13 female inmates who graduated from the County Fire inmate hand crew academy program Monday in San Bernardino. The crew is the first female inmate hand crew in the county, officials said. Photo courtesy of the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.
SAN BERNARDINO — San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department and San Bernardino County Fire Department officials on Monday proudly announced the graduation of Glen Helen Crew 15-9, the first female inmate hand crew in the county.
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The 13-member crew began training in July, with an eight-week long curriculum consisting of initial training in wildland fire suppression techniques, officials said in a news release. The inmates were also trained in how to use the basic Incident Command System, first aid and CPR, confined space awareness, chainsaw operations, and small engine and facility repair.“I am very proud of the accomplishments made by each and every one of the women sitting before you this afternoon,” Sheriff John McMahon said in a statement released after the graduation. “Our goal is to assist them in turning their lives around and send them back into mainstream society rehabilitated, educated and ready for employment.”The women join an inmate hand crew team ready to respond to fires throughout the County. The first male inmate hand crew began training in May 2013, with 15 members graduating that July. The male inmate crew has grown to 34 members since, officials said, and with the addition of the 13 women who graduated Monday, the county inmate hand crew team now totals 47 members.The female inmate hand crew has been deployed to assist in a vegetation fire in Victorville since completing the academy, officials said, with several upcoming assignments to include preparation for El Nino. The fire crews have proven to be an invaluable resource in more ways than one, officials said.“The hand crew’s main objective is to assist with local fuels reduction programs and chipping operations; assisting other county departments in meeting their mission in a cost effective manner, saving the county an estimated $1 million per year," Deputy Fire Chief Jim Johnstone said in a written statement. "The crew also responds to fire suppression incidents, as well as other types of emergency operations such as sandbagging."With the implementation of Assembly Bill 109, also known as the California inmate realignment plan, many inmates have been receiving longer sentences and are good candidates for the program. Crew members learn skills that can be used to gain future employment through the program, officials said.“To be considered for the crew, the inmate must be a low-level offender; must have 15-18 months of a sentence left to serve; no documented gang affiliation; no prior discipline; and must not be a flight risk,” McMahon said.For more information on the inmate hand crew program or to see photos of Monday’s graduation, visit www.sbcfire.org.