Close to 180 inmates were evacuated from their correctional facility in Rifle after the threat from a nearby wildfire grew too

The Lee Fire prompted evacuation of Rifle Correctional Center's 179 inmates. The fire, sixth-largest in Colorado history, has burned 88,755 acres. No injuries reported during the transfer.

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.