INMATES PARTNERS ON THE FIRE LINE; CREWS FORGE BONDS WHILE RISKING LIVES.

Byline: Orith Goldberg Staff Writer

They work as a team, forming bonds that transcend race, culture and ethnicity.

When a fire call comes in, inmates from prison camp crews respond, ready to risk their lives alongside county firefighters to extinguish devastating brush fires. ``We consider these guys Los Angeles County firefighters when they are on the crew,'' said foreman Ron Reed. ``I can't think of any job in the world that people work harder than these guys do in a fire.''

While their commitment to their jobs has given them strength of character, it can also cost them their lives.

``We lose as many people on crews as they do at fire stations,'' Reed said.

The most recent loss occurred July 18, when 40-year-old Martin Stiles died after falling 150 feet while battling a 2,500-acre blaze in Piru.

Stiles, who was assigned to Camp 19 in Azusa, apparently fell while using a chain saw, but officials are still investigating.

Inmates incarcerated for nonviolent crimes - such as drug offenses or receiving stolen property - are selected to go to the camps based on counselors' recommendations, officials say.

At Camp 11 in Acton, 91 inmates live in a dormitory setting and work at many positions, from cooks to clerks to the fire crews.

``It's like we have our own city here,'' said California Department of Corrections Officer Larry Mcquay.

At 6 a.m., the inmates are awakened and prepare for breakfast at 7. Fire crews undergo daily calisthenics and timed runs to keep them in condition for battling fires.

From 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., the crews tend to various projects, such as clearing out underbrush that could fuel fires. If a fire breaks out, they may be called to respond depending on the area. They get $1 an hour for their work.

When working in intense fire conditions, 14-man crews learn to watch out for one another, Mcquay said.

``Out there, they depend on each other and learn to get along, whereas inside a prison, inmates tend to segregate themselves (by race),'' he said.

Inmate Duke Cannon, 30, of Long Beach said there is still prejudice within camp crews, but it is not as blatant as in prison.

Cannon said his experience at the camp has prepared him for life when he leaves the prison system in about nine months.

``It gave me an opportunity to hone out certain characteristics and gave me discipline and the ability to deal with different personalities,'' he said.

Mcquay agreed that the experiences gained by the crews will be valuable for the rest of their lives.

``This teaches them great work ethics,'' he said. ``It's awesome rehabilitation.''

Since the camps are minimum security, occasionally an inmate will escape.

That was the case with 56-year-old John Alvarez, who walked away from a fire suppression crew at the Pitchess Detention Center on June 7. Authorities discovered the Camp 12 inmate missing during their 2 p.m. roll call.

The inmate, who was later caught, most likely ruined his chances for being assigned to another work crew.

Mcquay said when some inmates receive Dear John letters or something happens in their family, they take the risk and flee.

``They can't handle it so they run off,'' he said. ``It doesn't solve anything because now they can't be in the camp system because they can't be trusted.'' Reed said overall, the men on his crew in Camp 12 are good men and hard workers on whom he can rely.

``You can go and fight a fire for seven or eight days with these guys, and you definitely form a bond,'' he said.

CAPTION(S):

4 Photos

PHOTO (1--Color in SAC Edition only) Foreman Ron Reed leads camp crew 11-1 back to the truck after building a fire line off Placerita Canyon Road in Santa Clarita.

(2) The crew carves out a fire line. ``Out there, they depend on each other and learn to get along. . .'' said Corrections Officer Larry Mcquay.

(3) Members of camp crew 11-1 line up to board the truck for their return to Acton after making a fire line in Placerita Canyon last week. The 14-man crews learn to watch out for one another.

(4--Ran in Bulldog Edition only) Below, a member of the crew takes a quick last look as the truck leaves the canyon after a day's work Friday afternoon.

Shaun Dyer/Special to the Daily News