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 Colorado Department of Corrections announced the evacuation of the Rifle Correctional Center on Saturday as the Lee Fire continues to advance south.

RIFLE, Colo. — A wildfire in Rio Blanco County is forcing the evacuation of a prison north of Rifle. The Colorado Department of Corrections (DOC) said it has begun evacuating 179 inmates from the Rifle Correctional Center in response to the Lee Fire, which has scorched more than 88,000 acres and is zero percent contained as of Saturday afternoon.