Latest news with #RioBlanco
CBS News
10-08-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
Colorado Department of Corrections evacuates Rifle facility south of Lee Fire
The Colorado Department of Corrections announced the evacuation of the Rifle Correctional Center on Saturday as the Lee Fire continues to advance south. By Saturday evening, the fire burned over 92,000 acres, making it the sixth-largest wildfire in Colorado since 2001. As winds shifted on Friday, the fire began advancing quickly to the south, prompting officials to issue new evacuation orders in Rio Blanco and Garfield Counties. In response to the rapidly evolving fire, officials have decided to transfer all of the individuals incarcerated at the Rifle Correctional Center to other secure facilities outside of the fire-affected area. The center is a minimum security facility located on a 75-acre site in rural Garfield County. Authorities said they have begun the evacuation of the 179 individuals in custody and the facility staff members. "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," said the department in a release Saturday. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, the fire is now 6% contained.
CBS News
09-08-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
Lee Fire in Western Colorado gains 27,000 acres overnight, new evacuations ordered
The Lee Fire burning in Western Colorado has begun racing south after winds shifted away from the town of Meeker on Friday, prompting officials to declare new evacuation zones. As of Saturday morning, the Lee Fire to the southwest of Meeker has burned 88,877 acres and remains 0% contained. To the southeast of town, the Elk Fire is 8% contained and has burned 14,502 acres thus far. Officials said over 1,200 personnel are working on the Lee and Elk Fires combined. Meeker's evacuation status was downgraded to "ready" Friday night as the winds shifted away from the town. However, due to the winds changing direction, new evacuation zones have been declared south and west of the Lee Fire. Rio Blanco CR 5, Piceance Creek Road, is now closed. Evacuation Zone 63 to the south of the fire is now in "Go" status; residents in the area need to leave immediately. South of the fire, along the northern edge of Garfield County, zones 80 and 81 are in "Set" status. A short-notice evacuation for these residents is likely, and officials encouraged them to be ready to leave. They suggest those who need more time to leave now. You can find a list of evacuation zones and orders here. Red Cross shelters remain open at the Moffat County High School in Craig and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Rangley. According to some residents, ash and smoke can be seen from Rifle and Parachute. Officials said the Lee Fire has grown so large, and is burning so hot, that it's creating its own weather. They said pyrocumulus clouds created by the intense convection, combined with moisture in the air, have reached 30,000 feet high. Operations Planning Chief Tyler Nathe said the fire is creating its own winds and feeding itself.
CNN
07-08-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Fast-moving wildfires burn in northwest Colorado
Fast-moving wildfires burn in northwest Colorado Multiple evacuation orders have been issued for Rio Blanco county in northwest Colorado due to fast-moving wildfires. The Lee Fire has nearly doubled in size as it approaches the town of Meeker. 00:32 - Source: CNN Vertical Top News 11 videos Fast-moving wildfires burn in northwest Colorado Multiple evacuation orders have been issued for Rio Blanco county in northwest Colorado due to fast-moving wildfires. The Lee Fire has nearly doubled in size as it approaches the town of Meeker. 00:32 - Source: CNN Apple CEO gifts Trump plaque with 24K gold base Apple CEO Tim Cook gifted President Donald Trump a plaque made of glass manufactured in Corning's Harrodsburg, Kentucky, which he announced would be the cover glass on all iPhones and Apple Watches soon. 01:01 - Source: CNN Suspected Fort Stewart shooter identified The man suspected of opening fire at Fort Stewart has been identified as Quornelius Radford, according to Brig. Gen. John Lubas, the commanding general of the 3rd Infantry Division. The suspect is alive and in custody, a law enforcement official told CNN. 01:09 - Source: CNN US special envoy Witkoff meets Putin in Russia US special envoy Steve Witkoff met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, as President Donald Trump threatened to impose punishing new sanctions on Russia. The meeting, which lasted around 3 hours, was described as 'constructive and useful' by Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov, according to Russian state media TASS. CNN's Frederik Pleitgen reports. 01:49 - Source: CNN Texas Democratic lawmaker responds after Abbott tries to remove him from office Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) asked the state Supreme Court to remove Rep. Gene Wu (D) from office. Wu is one of 50 quorum-breaking Democratic House members who fled the state to forestall a vote on new congressional maps, and he responded to Abbott's move on AC360. 00:38 - Source: CNN Trump asked if he knew about Maxwell's prison transfer President Donald Trump told CNN's Kaitlan Collins he wasn't aware of Ghislaine Maxwell's prison transfer, and praised Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche when asked if he thought Ghislaine Maxwell is a credible witness. 01:46 - Source: CNN Texas lawmaker says he's willing to risk arrest or fines Texas state Rep. Ramón Romero said that he is willing to be arrested after he and other Democratic lawmakers left the state to block GOP redistricting efforts. The Texas House speaker said he signed civil arrest warrants for absent Democrats, and the governor ordered state officials to arrest them. But legal experts say the warrants are likely unenforceable outside state lines. 00:39 - Source: CNN Suspect arrested in Tennessee killings case The suspect in the killings of four relatives of a baby found abandoned last week has been arrested after a weeklong manhunt across rural Tennessee, according to police in Jackson. 00:49 - Source: CNN US Coast Guard releases new report on Titan submersible implosion The implosion of OceanGate's Titan submersible, which killed five people in 2023, was a preventable tragedy caused by OceanGate's failure to follow safety protocols and a toxic workplace culture, according to a report released by the US Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation. 01:07 - Source: CNN GOP congressman met with boos and jeers at town hall Rep. Mike Flood (R-NE) was met with boos and jeers after his answer about funding for migrant detention facilities and ICE during a town hall in Lincoln, Nebraska. 01:43 - Source: CNN
