April 2, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Michael Winder, Communications and Information Manager (605) 773-3478

State Prison Inmates Helping Fight Fire in Southern Hills

(Pierre) –State prison inmates have been called to assist with fighting a fire in the Southern Black Hills.

Twenty inmates and two staff members from the Rapid City Trusty Unit responded to the Rankin Ridge Fire near Wind Cave this morning.

All of the inmates and staff on the fire line are wildland fire trained and certified firefighters.

This is the first fire in 2004 that inmate crews have responded to. Inmate crews worked more than 13-thousand hours on 15 fires in the Black Hills during 2003.

                                                                                -30-