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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Authorities searching for inmates who escaped fire crew near Oregon border

Authorities are searching for two inmates who escaped a fire work crew near Goldendale, about 70 miles south of Yakima.

The Washington state Department of Corrections has identified the two inmates as Tyray Munter, 30, and Maksim Petrovskiy, 22. The two escaped at about 2:30 a.m. Tuesday while others were sleeping. They were working on a Department of Natural Resources crew battling a blaze that started Saturday. The state often utilizes inmates who volunteer to help fight wildfires.

Hilary Franz, commissioner of public lands, expressed concern over the incident in a statement to media, adding that the department is assisting local and state law enforcement efforts to apprehend the pair.

“DNR recognizes that offender crews provide valuable assistance in fire suppression activities especially during periods of limited resource availability and significant fire activity as we are seeing this year and have seen in previous years,” she wrote in the statement. “The department has had a good track record working with the DOC in using offender crews in the firefighting effort.”

According to information from the DOC, Munter was convicted of assault in Snohomish County and began serving his 72-month sentence on June 28, 2016. His expected release date had been tentatively set for May 2, 2020.

Petrovskiy was convicted of taking a motor vehicle without permission and possession of a stolen vehicle in Snohomish County and began serving his 33-month sentence on April 18. His expected release date had been tentatively set for Dec. 8, 2018.

The two were housed in the Olympic Corrections Center near Forks, Washington.

Authorities ask anyone who sees the inmates to not approach them and instead call 911 or contact the Olympic Corrections Center at (360) 374-6181.