Rifle Prison evacuated as Lee Fire grows

A western Colorado prison was evacuated as the Lee Fire expanded, with remote areas urged to prepare for possible further evacuations.

Colorado prison evacuated as Lee Fire becomes one of the largest wildfires in state history

The Rifle Correctional Center in Meeker was evacuated on Saturday as the Lee Fire grew to more than 167 square miles across Garfield and Rio Blanco counties, with containment at 6 percent. All 179 inmates were relocated about 150 miles away to Buena Vista Correctional Complex, a move described by officials as precautionary. More than a thousand firefighters are fighting the blaze, trying to keep it west of Colorado 13 and north of County Road 5. Health officials issued air quality warnings for smoke as the Elk Fire to the east covers about 23 square miles. In nearby California, the Canyon Fire near the Los Angeles and Ventura County line was 62 percent contained, with seven structures destroyed, while the Gifford Fire has burned about 180 square miles since Aug 1.

The evacuation shows how emergency teams must balance prison safety with wildfire risk. Moving inmates far from home creates logistical hurdles and costs, and it tests coordination among corrections, fire services, and transport teams. The Lee Fire’s size ranking — now among the largest in state history — highlights a broader pattern of bigger and more unpredictable blazes from a warming climate. As conditions stay dry and windy, the focus shifts to protecting communities and critical infrastructure while juggling scarce firefighting resources. This incident also underscores the need for robust cross jurisdiction planning to handle rapid evacuations and support for affected residents and facilities.

Highlights

Fires test how well communities plan for safety when danger is immediate