[Solano County] grand jury issues report on Delta Conservation Camp challenges

FAIRFIELD — The Solano County grand jury recently issued two recommendations related to recruitment challenges at the Delta Conservation Camp.

Delta Camp is one of 18 Northern California firefighting training camps. It’s authorized to accommodate 120 inmates with an additional 10 percent coverage when necessary. The report released Jan. 21 said the Delta Camp population was 70.

Replacement of released inmates is a necessary activity, the report reads.

Delta Camp depends upon the prison population of lesser felons in Susanville to provide candidates.

The grand jury said the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection need to expand their recruitment system to find more potential trainees from other correctional facilities, such as county jails.

Delta Camp staff informed the grand jury the English fluency requirement is a barrier to finding acceptable candidates.

The grand jury suggested county jail systems provide English-language education opportunities.

Delta Camp staff also told the grand jury that because of current legislation, there is concern that the training program will disappear.

The grand jury also noted legislators need to research the effects and consequences of any proposed legislation, including with the agencies affected by any potential legislation.

The Delta Camp concept provides two exceptional assets for the state: reduced recidivism and a trained firefighter force. These assets need to be protected, the grand jury report said.

When not actively fighting fires, Delta Camp provides inmate teams for community work projects in Solano County, such as weed abatement and defensible space clearing.

There were 90 proposed projects which are on hold while inmate firefighters battled wildland fires, the report said.

The Delta Conservation Camp, on Lambie Road off Highway 12, was opened in June 1988. The mission of the camp is to provide inmate fire crews for fire suppression in the Sonoma, Lake, Napa Unit and the Solano County area. Crews can be dispatched throughout the state.

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is responsible for the security, supervision, care and discipline of the inmates. Cal Fire maintains the camp, supervises work of the inmate fire crews and is responsible for the custody of the inmates on their daily projects.

January 29, 2020

Fairfield Daily Republic

By Daily Republic Staff