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Media Relations Office:
Firewalkers Train in Prescott They call themselves the “Firewalkers,” and they are Arizona’s newest firefighters. This upcoming fire season, the “Firewalkers,” Arizona's first and only all-female inmate wildland firefighting crew, will be working the frontline alongside state and federal fire crews. On Wednesday May 25, the female inmate crew, from Arizona State Prison Complex-Perryville, will take part in a three-day brush-clearing project in Prescott as part of their on-going training. The 16-female crewmembers are low custody inmates who make 50 cents an hour. “Both Arizona taxpayers and inmates on the crew benefit. The program is advantageous to taxpayers because female inmates earn far less than traditional firefighters,” said ASPC-Perryville Warden Denny Harkins. “Also, inmates on the crew gain real world experience that will help them find jobs once they are released.” The State Land Department certified the female firefighters in February of 2005 following approximately 80 hours of basic firefighter and power saw training. To date, ADC has one female and 11 male fire crews, eight of which are certified. |
