US EditionNearly 180 Inmates Evacuated From Colorado Prison as Lee Fire Grows
RIO BLANCO COUNTY, COLORADO, AUG 9 – The Elk and Lee fires have grown rapidly due to high winds and dry conditions, with over 1,200 personnel and 88,700 acres of the Lee Fire uncontained, officials said.
- On Saturday, August 2, the Colorado Department of Corrections evacuated the 179 inmates housed at the Rifle Correctional Center due to the Lee Fire threatening Rio Blanco County.
- The evacuation followed the fire’s rapid growth fueled by extreme weather on Friday, including high winds, dry vegetation, and pyro cumulus cloud development.
- The Lee Fire expanded to about 88,755 acres by Saturday and remained 0% contained while crews worked under a Red Flag Warning from 1 a.m. to 8 p.m. to prevent further spread.
- Firefighting efforts involved 1,245 personnel, 13 aircraft, 62 engines, and the coordinated evacuation relocated inmates safely to facilities outside the fire area with no injuries reported.
- The fire’s size and behavior prompted multiple evacuation zones to be upgraded, indicating ongoing risk and the need for continued monitoring and response.
14 Articles
14 Articles
Rifle Correctional Center inmates safely evacuated due to growth of Lee fire
The Colorado Department of Corrections has successfully relocated 179 inmates from the Rifle Correctional Center in a precautionary response to the Lee fire in Rio Blanco County.
Elk and Lee fires surpass 103,000 combined acres; new evacuation orders issued in Rio Blanco, Garfield counties
The Elk and Lee fires in Rio Blanco county surpassed 103,000 combined acres as of Saturday morning, prompting additional evacuation orders, according to the Aug. 9 update from the Rocky Mountain Incident Management team. Burning...
Elk and Lee fires surpass 100,000 combined acres; New evacuation orders issued in Rio Blanco and Garfield counties
The Elk and Lee fires in Rio Blanco county surpassed 103,000 combined acres as of Saturday morning, prompting additional evacuation orders, according to the Aug. 9 update from the Rocky Mountain Incident Management team. Burning at just over 14,502 acres, the Elk Fire is 8% contained while the Lee Fire, burning at roughly 88,700 acres, remains 0% contained. At around 7 a.m. Saturday morning, officials upgraded evacuation Zone 63 to the “Go” stat…
Inmates from Rifle Correctional Center evacuated due to conditions of the Lee Fire
The Colorado Department of Corrections (CDOC) has announced that they are evacuating all 179 inmates from the Rifle Correctional Center as a direct result of the Lee Fire in Rio Blanco County.The Rifle Correctional Center opened in 1979 and can house up to 192 residents. The center is on 97.73 acres of land and includes 24 buildings.CDOC is working on a coordinated evacuation to ensure that all inmates and staff are evacuated safely.According to…
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