More than 100 inmates gain hands-on firefighting skills at South Fork Forest Camp, preparing for rapid deployment as fire season looms.
TILLAMOOK, Ore. — More than 100 adults in custody are undergoing hands-on wildland firefighting training this week at the South Fork Forest Camp near Tillamook as part of a long-standing partnership between the Oregon Department of Forestry and the Oregon Department of Corrections. The training prepares participants to deploy to active fires as soon as they complete certification, bolstering the state’s wildfire response capacity ahead of fire season.
The training combines classroom instruction with physically demanding field exercises designed to simulate real wildfire conditions.
Derek Gasperini, a public affairs officer with the Oregon Department of Forestry, said the crews play a critical role once fires are contained.
“We have a pretty strong initial attack from Oregon Department of Forestry districts, and then these crews come in and are able to do the mop up, which they’re practicing today,” Gasperini said. “They’re able to pick up hose line and make those engines available for initial attack on the next start.”
The South Fork Forest Camp is the oldest and largest work camp of its kind in the Pacific Northwest. Since 1951, it has trained adults in custody to assist with fire suppression and forest management while preparing them for reintegration into society.
For many participants, the program offers more than job training.
Tyler Davis, a hand crew member who has been at the camp for three years, said the experience provides a sense of purpose and a chance to demonstrate personal growth.
“We get to show people that we aren’t exactly what we used to be as far as coming to prison for,” Davis said. “We get to show people in society that we have a lot to contribute and that reformation is a very real thing here.”
Davis, who previously worked in the timber industry, said the program has deepened his connection to forestry.
“It’s really shown me the true circle of what forestry means to me,” he said, adding that the hands-on training helps prepare new participants for wildfire response. “It gives them a real-life look at what they’re up against.”
Participants can deploy to fires across northwest Oregon, and crews may also be pre-positioned in high-risk areas during red flag warnings or anticipated lightning events.
Gasperini said having the crews available “certainly bolsters” the state’s ability to respond quickly to new fires.
For others, the program offers a rare sense of freedom and direction.
Kristopher Lessar, who has been at the camp for three months, said the work is both challenging and rewarding.
“It’s breathtaking, but it’s fun. It’s good to go,” Lessar said. “It’s physical labor — there’s nothing bad about physical labor.”
Lessar said the opportunity drew him to the program.
“I wanted the experience of being in prison, but not being in prison,” he said. “There’s more to this than being behind a prison wall. At least we’re out in the woods.”
After completing the week of training, crews can deploy at any time, providing critical support during Oregon’s increasingly demanding wildfire seasons.
To ensure diverse coverage and expert insight across a wide range of topics, our publication features contributions from multiple staff writers with varied areas of expertise.
