CDCR

Conservation (Fire) Camps

Facts and figures

Total Staff (CDCR) 2009: 8
Total Staffing (CAL-FIRE/LAC) 2009: 11
Total # Inmates (as of 12/31/2009): 79

Camp Products

Miramonte was originally designed to produce products within its’ Welding, Carpentry, Truck Auto Body and Paint Shops. Many time era evolutions and requirements within each of these industries have brought all but the carpentry shop to near closer. This shop still produces cabinets, signs and repairs many of the wooden Cal Fire and US Forest Service signs in the area.

Community service projects

Miramonte’s four work crews average over 118,000 man hours of Community Service Projects each year. Since all work performed is on Federal, State, Local Government and approved non-profit organizations properties, this translated into a taxpayer savings of over $950,000 (at minimum wage). Examples of these projects include work at: Millerton Lake (Bureau of Reclamation/California State Parks and Recreation); Pine Flat Lake (US Army Corps of Engineers); Highway 180 Litter Removal (Cal Trans); Hume Lake and various Campgrounds (US Forest Service); Friant Fish Hatchery (California Dept Fish and Game); Fresno/King Unit Fire Stations (Cal Fire).

At Miramonte, over 60 inmates are also trained firefighters ready for immediate respond to emergencies. Annually, these inmates typically participate in over 86,000 hours of fire fighting assignments. The efforts of this small group of CDCR inmate firefighters saved California taxpayers on average over $860,000 annually.

Combining Firefighting and Service Projects, Miramonte inmates provide an annual potential savings of over 1.8 million dollars in labor costs.

Welcome to Miramonte Conservation Camp #5

49039 Orchard Drive, Miramonte, CA 93641
PH: (559) 336-2312

Camp Staff

Randy Rowland, Camp Commander
Steve Pate, Assistant Camp Commander
Jack German, Correctional Officer
Ted Craven, Correctional Officer
Deborah Hutchinson, Correctional Officer
Richard Kondziela, Correctional Officer
Terry Barrett, Correctional Officer
Arlene Lemos, Correctional Officer

Camp History

Built in 1949, Miramonte has just celebrated its 60th year of providing fire protection and community services to the Fresno and Kings County area. During this period, Miramonte Camp has left a positive mark within the surrounding communities. This includes inmate built rock walls, stairs and water culverts dotted throughout the area and the memories of seeing inmates and the “red buses” working in the community.

Miramonte is located just outside Sequoia National Forest at an elevation of about 3,000 feet. It is secluded in the oak studded foothills 55 miles east of Fresno.

Inmate Programs

Inmates assigned to Miramonte can avail themselves to over 400 hours (2009) of religious studies/training donated by local religious organizations. Prerelease classes are available to prepare inmates for their eventual return to the community. This training includes both video training and written material. Additionally, prior to parole, inmate may obtain a California Identification Card or a California Driver’s License (renewals, duplicates or written testing portion only).