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AP World Wide Photos/Mike Meadows A Los Angeles County firefighter moves away from a wall of flames, Saturday, July 17, 1999, at a wildfire that consumed about 1,500 acres of brush in Piru, Calif., about 60 miles northwest of Los Angeles. About 350 firefighters from Los Angeles and Ventura counties fought the blaze.

PIRU, Calif. (AP) -- An inmate digging a firebreak to contain a Southern California wildfire died early Sunday when he fell off a cliff.

The unidentified convict was among about 50 prisoners put to work fighting the 2,000-acre brush fire. He was using a chainsaw before dawn when he went over the 150-foot drop.

``The crews were walking at night in steep terrain. The inmate lost his footing ... he was dead by the time they found him,'' said Ventura County Fire Department spokeswoman Rose Regalado.

State prison inmates are commonly used to fight wildfires under supervision.

Nearly 660 federal, state and local firefighters remained on the front lines Sunday. The blaze about 60 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles was 75 percent contained, with full containment expected before Monday. No other serious injuries or property damage were reported.

AP World Wide Photos/Mike Meadows

Los Angeles County Fire Dept. camp crews turn to move away from a wall of flames, Saturday, July 17, 1999, at a wildfire that consumed about 1,500 acres of brush in Piru, Calif.