Thousands of inmates at Castaic Correctional Facility remained evacuated in place despite being within the evacuation zone of the more than 10,000-acre Hughes Fire, which broke out on Wednesday.
The Hughes Fire was reported around 11 a.m. and quickly grew to cover thousands of acres, prompting evacuation orders for about 31,000 people, including residents of Castaic.
The Fuse Fire is seen burning behind the Pitches Detention Center on January 22, 2024 (Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department) A Sheriff’s Department bus as the Fuse Fire burns near Castic on January 22, 2024 can be seen. (Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department)
Although they were located within its evacuation zone, a lack of operational buses made it difficult, if not impossible, to evacuate the prison facility’s 4,700 inmates, the Los Angeles Times said. The paper reported.
Instead, a shelter-in-place order was issued and about 480 inmates at the Pitches Detention Center were moved from a barracks-style facility to a sturdier concrete structure within the same facility, the Times said.
As the blaze continues to spread, the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office issued a statement calling for the jail to be evacuated immediately.
“We are deeply concerned that this disaster poses an immediate risk to the health and safety of our customers,” X’s post said. “They must not be ignored or abandoned at this critical moment.”
Shortly before 11 p.m., the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said it was ready to protect inmates from the fire and posted an image of a bus that appeared to be on standby in case evacuations were needed.
“If any of your loved ones are incarcerated at the Pitches Detention Center, don’t worry. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is ready to protect them from the Hughes Fire,” just before @LASDHQ X Feed Posted. 11pm
As of 6:42 a.m. Thursday, the Hughes Fire had burned 10,176 acres and was 14% contained. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
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