Two prison inmates escaped from their service fighting a wildfire near Goldendale, Washington early Tuesday morning.
Tyray Munter, 30, was convicted of second degree assault and theft. Maksim Petrovskiy, 22, was convicted of possession of a stolen vehicle. Both were less than four years from release, which is a requirement of the inmate wildfire crew program.
On Tuesday afternoon the two escapees were spotted in southeast Portland. The sighting was confirmed using store surveillance camera footage, but the inmates are still at large.
Munter and Petrovskiy had been held at the minimum security Olympic Corrections Center near Forks, Washington. They were working at the 100-acre Head Water wildfire alongside 80 other inmates when they escaped around 2:35 a.m., according to DOC.
Two other Washington state inmates escaped from a work crew two months ago. They had also been housed at a minimum security facility. A DOC spokesman described their capture as “peaceful” at the time.
The Washington State Department of Corrections has a joint program with the Department of Natural Resources to provide training for inmates and backup for wildfire firefighters. DNR Commissioner Hilary Franz said inmate crews are helpful, especially in years like this one when wildfires are active.
Authorities advise that if you see either inmate, to not approach him and call 911 immediately.