From ABC News: Camden County, Ga., is considering using inmates from a local prison to fill out its fire department ranks rather than hiring trained firefighters, as part of cost-saving measure.

The plan would include putting two inmates in each of three existing fire houses, which could allegedly help save the town $500,000 in fire insurance costs by boosting the town’s fire coverage.

Neighboring Sumter County uses a model in which he inmates would not be guarded by prison staff while at the firehouse, but instead would be overseen by fire-department supervisors who would receive “correctional training.”

The inmates chosen to be part of the program would be low-level criminals, according to the report, with convictions for robbery, theft, or drug charges. They will be available during all shifts to help fight fires, unlike paid firefighters, who are given time off after working 24-hour shifts, the report said. Read the entire article here.