Georgia counties facing a shortage of firefighters are utilizing state prison inmates trained through the Georgia Department of Corrections’ Firefighter Program to respond to fire calls. The program, established in 1963, trains inmates to become certified firefighters who can then respond to fires outside of prison facilities. A new report from UGA shows that currently, the program operates 19 fire stations in state prisons and six in county prisons, covering a total of 35 counties in the state – including Chattooga County.

Inmates in the program work for free, live on the fire station’s property, and are on call 24/7. To qualify for the program, offenders must be minimum to medium security and not serving time for arson or sexual offenses. The inmates in the program respond to approximately 3,000 calls per year, providing essential services like emergency response, medical assistance, and fire response in several Georgia communities.

Despite its benefits, some counties have refused to participate in the program due to safety concerns or criticisms about the exploitation of unpaid inmate labor. However, a recent change in Georgia state code now allows participating inmates to be hired as firefighters outside of prison after completing their time in the program.

Hays State Prison Fire Services houses 10 inmates who respond to fire calls throughout the county.