Due to coronavirus pandemic, lack of inmate crews leaves Cal Fire shorthanded

The coronavirus pandemic is impacting Cal Fire’s inmate crews, creating staffing shortages.

Weeks weather is a reminder that fire season is in session -- but will the pandemic leave us under- prepared?

Action news now reporter ana torrea is live in redding.

Ana do we have enough crews ready to go if a major fire breaks out here at home?

Cal fire is pulling resources from the california conservation corps and the national guard to make sure it's covered if a wildfire breaks out..

Take so* trt:14 nick truax cal fire shasta trinity unity division chief we'll normally have 12 crews six at sugar pine, six at trinity river, this year with the early release stuff we were down to 4 at each camp, for a total of 8, and currently, both camps are in quarantine so we actually have zero.

Cal fire uses inmates to help battle wildfires.

The shasta trinity unit inmate crew comes out of lassen county.

Take so* trt:08 nick truax cal fire shasta trinity unity division chief our inmates come out of susanville, from the california correctional center, over there there's a 2- week training course they go thru there.

But because of the coronavirus outbreakthe california correctional center suspended inmate transfers.

Take so* trt:05 nick truax cal fire shasta trinity unity division chief we're hoping to get a portion of our inmate crews out of quarantine soon.

The california department of corrections and rehabilitation says no inmates in the conservation camp tested positive for coronavirus.

Take so* trt:12 nick truax cal fire shasta trinity unity division chief anytime we're having a shortage of our resources that we're used to, we may have to change our tactics at times or bring in additional engines or additional bulldozers or aircraft we wouldn't have ana stand u* trt ana torrea atorreanews and cal fire relies heavily on its inmate crews to do more than just battle wildfires.

The lack of inmate crews also taking a toll on some cal fire projects.

Take so* trt:08 nick truax cal fire shasta trinity unity division chief we're out doing fuels reduction projects and those kinds of things, so not only wildfires but its affected those activies as well and as peak wildfire season approaches... take so* trt:08 nick truax cal fire shasta trinity unity division chief fortunately, we haven't had a whole lot of fires yet but we are coming into peak season now, so we're really hoping to get some of those crews back shortly.

Governor gavin newsom says state will hire more than 800 additional firefighters through october reporting live in redding, ana torrea, action news now coverage you can count on.

The california department of corrections and rehabilitation says: it expects to the quarantine to be lifted sometime next week-- and inmate crews will be able to return wildfire prevention efforts.

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