Colorado prison evacuated as growing wildfire becomes one of the largest in state history
Evacuation orders were already in place for mountain communities as the Lee Fire charred more than 167 square miles across Garfield and Rio Blanco counties, with just 6% containment. No injuries or structural damage has been reported.
All 179 incarcerated people were safely removed from the Rifle Correctional Center on Saturday "out of an abundance of caution," the Colorado Department of Corrections said in a statement. They were temporarily relocated about 150 miles away to the Buena Vista Correctional Complex, the department said.
The Lee Fire, churning through trees and brush about 250 miles west of Denver, is now the sixth-largest single fire in the state's history, according to the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control.
More than a thousand firefighters are battling the blaze, working to keep the flames to the west of Colorado 13 and north of County Road 5, officials said.
Health officials issued air quality warnings related to smoke from the Lee Fire and the 23-square-mile Elk Fire burning just to the east.
In Southern California, crews reached 62% containment on the 8-square-mile Canyon Fire that forced evacuations and destroyed seven structures after breaking out Thursday near the Los Angeles County and Ventura County line. Three firefighters have been injured, including a battalion chief who was seriously hurt when his pickup truck rolled over in steep terrain.
The Gifford Fire, California's largest blaze so far this year, has scorched at least 180 square miles of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties since erupting on Aug. 1. It was 21% contained on Sunday.
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Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Prison evacuated as Colorado wildfire becomes one of the largest in state history
A Colorado prison has been evacuated as one of the state's largest ever wildfires continues to grow, with officials warning residents in remote areas to prepare for immediate departure. The Lee Fire has already charred more than 167 square miles (433 square kilometers) across Garfield and Rio Blanco counties, with mountain communities already under evacuation orders. Only six percent of the blaze has been contained. Gusty winds and low humidity are exacerbating the inferno. However, no injuries or structural damage have been reported. All 179 incarcerated people were safely removed from the Rifle Correctional Center on Saturday 'out of an abundance of caution,' the Colorado Department of Corrections said in a statement. They were temporarily relocated about 150 miles (240 kilometers) away to the Buena Vista Correctional Complex, the department said. The Lee Fire, churning through trees and brush about 250 miles (400 kilometers) west of Denver, is now the sixth-largest single fire in the state's history, according to the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control. More than a thousand firefighters are battling the blaze, working to keep the flames to the west of Colorado 13 and north of County Road 5, officials said. Health officials issued air quality warnings related to smoke from the Lee Fire and the 23-square-mile (60-square-kilometer) Elk Fire burning just to the east. In Southern California, crews reached 62 percent containment on the eight-square-mile (20-square-kilometer) Canyon Fire that forced evacuations and destroyed seven structures after breaking out Thursday near the Los Angeles County and Ventura County line. Three firefighters have been injured, including a battalion chief who was seriously hurt when his pickup truck rolled over in steep terrain. The Gifford Fire, California's largest blaze so far this year, has scorched at least 180 square miles (466 square kilometers) of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties since erupting on August 1. It was 21 percent contained on Sunday.
CNN
6 hours ago
- CNN
Colorado prison evacuated as growing wildfire becomes one of the largest in state history
A Colorado prison was evacuated as one of the largest wildfires in state history continued to grow, and officials warned residents of remote areas to be ready to leave Sunday as gusty winds and low humidity fed the flames. Evacuation orders were already in place for mountain communities as the Lee Fire charred more than 167 square miles (433 square kilometers) across Garfield and Rio Blanco counties, with just 6% containment. No injuries or structural damage has been reported. All 179 incarcerated people were safely removed from the Rifle Correctional Center on Saturday 'out of an abundance of caution,' the Colorado Department of Corrections said in a statement. They were temporarily relocated about 150 miles (240 kilometers) away to the Buena Vista Correctional Complex, the department said. The Lee Fire, churning through trees and brush about 250 miles (400 kilometers) west of Denver, is now the sixth-largest single fire in the state's history, according to the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control. More than a thousand firefighters are battling the blaze, working to keep the flames to the west of Colorado 13 and north of County Road 5, officials said. Health officials issued air quality warnings related to smoke from the Lee Fire and the 23-square-mile (60-square-kilometer) Elk Fire burning just to the east. In Southern California, crews reached 62% containment on the 8-square-mile (20-square-kilometer) Canyon Fire that forced evacuations and destroyed seven structures after breaking out Thursday near the Los Angeles County and Ventura County line. Three firefighters have been injured, including a battalion chief who was seriously hurt when his pickup truck rolled over in steep terrain. The Gifford Fire, California's largest blaze so far this year, has scorched at least 180 square miles (466 square kilometers) of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties since erupting on Aug. 1. It was 21% contained on Sunday.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Fast-moving wildfire forces evacuation of Colorado prison
A Colorado prison was evacuated due to a fast-growing wildfire that's already one of the largest in state history, officials said. The ongoing spread of the Lee Fire in western Colorado forced the relocation of 179 incarcerated individuals at the Rifle Correctional Center to the Buena Vista Correctional Complex on Aug. 9, a Colorado Department of Corrections news release said. While no injuries were reported at the prison — located about 70 miles northeast of Grand Junction, Colorado — all the inmates were moved outside the fire area "out of an abundance of caution." The Lee Fire, which began on Aug. 2, has quickly burned more than 106,700 acres, according to an update on InciWeb, a government website that monitors wildfires. The blaze has reached 6% containment. Firefighters are battling near-critical fire weather, including lower humidity and periods of gusty winds. Despite cooler temperatures, the fire is aided by drier vegetation and steep slopes. The blaze is nearing the fifth-largest by acreage in state history, the 2018 Spring Creek Fire, which burned over 108,000 acres. All of Colorado's 20 largest fires have occurred in the last 25 years, according to the state Division of Fire Prevention and Control. The cause of the Lee Fire is still undetermined. In an overview of the fire, InciWeb said the Lee and Grease fires, which eventually formed together, were "discovered on August 2nd as lightning strikes on Bureau of Land Management land in the Piceance area." 'Drought with severe and extreme weather conditions, along with multiple days of red flag warnings and heightened fire activity, the Lee fire grew over 100,000 acres in eight days,' according to InciWeb. Several western states, including Colorado, are battling large wildfires. California has its largest fire of 2025: Over 118,000 acres are estimated to have burned in the Gifford Fire, with 33% containment, according to InciWeb. Eduardo Cuevas is based in New York City. Reach him by email at emcuevas1@ or on Signal at emcuevas.01. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Colorado prison evacuated amid fast-growing Lee Fire
