help fight wildfire

The Oregon Department of Corrections dispatched inmates from its Coos County facility to help fight a wildfire Friday in Eastern Oregon. In all, 180 minimum-security inmates and 24 staff supervisors were sent to the Shelton Fire, 10 miles southeast of Fossil, Corrections Director Max Williams said in a press release.

The Department of Corrections deployed inmates and staff from minimum-custody correctional facilities in Lakeview, Ontario, Tillamook and North Bend.

The Oregon Department of Forestry reported the fire Thursday afternoon and it had charred 2,200 acres by Friday morning.

The Department of Corrections has more than 200 minimum-security inmates ready this summer to help fight fires. Most receive training by the Oregon Department of Forestry as firefighters, participating in more than 40 hours of classroom instruction and hands-on training in fire behavior, emergency fire shelter deployment, and fire suppression.