Ban of CYA Fire Crews Called Misunderstanding by Officials

Camarillo City Manager William Little said a ban on California Youth Authority fire crews working within the city limits was the result of a misunderstanding between CYA and city officials.

After talking with CYA Ventura School Supt. Manuel Carbajal at a City Council meeting Wednesday, the council directed Little to write a letter inviting the fire crews back to work on public projects in Camarillo. “I think we got it all ironed out,” Little said.

Carbajal had removed the crews from the city in February without the council’s knowledge after meeting with Camarillo Councilmen Michael Morgan and David M. Smith. Morgan and Smith relayed residents’ concerns that dangerous inmates were escaping while on fire-crew duty.

Carbajal said he stopped sending crews into Camarillo only because he believed that was what the councilmen wanted.

He told the council that the CYA has since changed its criteria for selecting inmates for fire-crew service, choosing those with less time left until parole than before.