Nearly 180 inmates had been being evacuated from a Colorado jail, officers introduced Saturday night, because the Lee Fire continues to advance south.
The Colorado Department of Corrections introduced that 179 inmates had been being evacuated from the Rifle Correctional Center in northwest Colorado.
The inmates had been being transferred “to other secure facilities outside the fire-affected area,” the company mentioned in a information launch.
“Rifle Correctional Center staff have implemented the facility’s emergency evacuation plan, ensuring the safe transfer of residents with enhanced security and strong coordination among partner agencies,” the company mentioned.
Garfield County Sheriff’s Office
There had been no stories of accidents to inmates or employees, the CDOC mentioned.
As of Saturday night, the Lee Fire had burned greater than 92,000 acres, making it the sixth-largest wildfire in Colorado since 2001. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, the fireplace is 6% contained.
As winds shifted on Friday, the fireplace started advancing shortly to the south, prompting officers to concern new evacuation orders in Rio Blanco and Garfield counties.
The Rifle Correctional Center is a minimal safety facility positioned on a 75-acre web site in rural Garfield County.