Equipment and Training/Certification for Vegetation Treatment/Fire Mitigation at Lompoc Prison

The Lompoc Prison, with its location next to Vandenberg SFB and other key areas, is an important partner in the fire resilience landscape for the Lompoc area. The prison owns 2400 acres total, with Vandenberg SFB to the west, the airport to the south, the Burton Mesa reserve to the north, and the City of Lompoc on its eastern side. The portion of the prison next the VSFB is the most vulnerable to a fire. The prison itself falls under the City of Lompoc jurisdiction as Incident Command for emergency response, and County fire is the Unified Command in the SRA. While each surrounding entity typically manages its own area while in a “non-emergency” situation, there is a need for enhanced coordination among the entities who manage the fire landscape in the region.

Prison safety staff have been currently working with the Vandenberg Space Force team to train inmates to assist in the event of a fire, and for preventative vegetation management. However, there is a need for additional equipment and certification opportunities for the prison to effectively conduct the training sessions. A needs assessment on the type of equipment needed should be conducted (drip torches, dozers, tools, etc.), and what basic training/certifications and qualifications are required to operate the equipment. There also may be a possibility of inmates to obtain TREX training, however, additional coordination and equipment would be needed for this to occur. This would provide workforce opportunities for inmates upon their release.

Status: Conceptual

Cost: Medium cost

Partners: Lompoc Federal Penitentiary (Lompoc Prison), Vandenberg Space Force Base (VSFB) and City of Lompoc