This photo is of the DRCI fire trained AIC’s at DRCI in Madras this year.

The Deer Ridge Correctional Institution near Madras has been operating since September 2007. Since then, the prison has added numerous programs to assist adults in custody find gainful employment after their release to prevent recidivism. One of those programs is firefighting, where the AIC’s can train for an AFFT2 wildland firefighter national certificate.

The firefighting training is conducted in May. The Oregon Department of Corrections contracts with the Oregon Department of Forestry each year to train AICs for firefighting on ODF controlled fires. Earning the certification qualifies them to apply for other wildland firefighting jobs.

Brian Chapman, DRCI IWP coordinator, stated DRCI “has contracted with ODF to have one 10-man fire crew this year. In years past we have had two to four crews. Twenty-five AICs and three staff were trained for the 2025 season. The use of AIC fire crews has been on the decline the past few years. I do not know why that is, but the fire program is a great benefit to the state. Our crew can be deployed wherever they are needed in the state and was deployed to the Barber Creek fire last year.”

The Pioneer has reached out to ODF to ask why so few crews this year but has not yet heard back.

Per Chapman, the training is five days, four of which are classroom, and one is a field day.

The requirements for participating in the training program include approvals for medical fitness and gate clearance, plus approval by the institution review committee. When dispatched to a fire, the crew is assigned one supervising officer for a crew of 10 AIC firefighters. If they are out overnight, there is 24-hour supervision.

Many of the AICs are also chainsaw trained, which requires First Aid/CPR training. When given the opportunity, Chapman will include CPR/First Aid training for all the fire crew AICs.

Currently, DRCI provides a 10-man work crew that goes out each week and performs fuels reduction work for the USFS within the Deschutes National Forest.

This is valuable work to prevent possible future wildfires. You may have observed some fire mitigation work, which may have included a DRCI crew.

The DRCI crews were not assigned to the Elk Lane fire last year but are available if called upon by ODF.