Firefighters

Prison blaze snuffed out by CCI Fire Captain, inmate fire crew

Two photos of firefighters putting out hot spots.
Kern County and CDCR firefighters battled a 10-acre blaze on the outskirts of the institution's grounds.


By Lt. Elias Garcia

On Saturday, Aug. 17, the California Correctional Institution (CCI) Fire Captain and four of his inmate fire fighting crew battled a grass fire on the southwest corner of the institutional property.

The 10-acre grass fire started at a private residence and made its way east toward the institutional property line.

Kern County firefighters arrived to assist on the residence side while the CCI Fire crew attacked the blaze from the institution side. A Kern County fire helicopter assisted in knocking down the fire with water sourced from the local reservoir.