AUGUSTA — The Maine Department of Corrections is sending prisoner work crews to Lewiston to help clean up debris and flammable material in more than 50 vacant lots.
The crews are going to Lewiston in the wake of three fires in apartment buildings that have left nearly 200 people homeless.
Maine Correctional Center Superintendent Scott Burnheimer said prisoner crews will not work directly at the fire scenes, but will assist the city in cleaning up vacant lots that have debris and fire hazards on them.
Gov. Paul LePage calls that a proactive approach to preventing fires.
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