urgent-call-for-evacuation-as-wildfire-threatens-5000-person-jail-complex

**Urgent Evacuation Needed as Wildfire Threatens 5,000-Person Jail Complex**

A rapidly spreading wildfire near the Castaic jail complex has prompted urgent calls for evacuation on Wednesday morning. Attorneys representing the nearly 5,000 inmates housed in the county’s northernmost jails are urging the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department to take immediate action to ensure the safety of all individuals in the area.

**Growing Alarm at the Hughes Fire**

The Hughes fire ignited shortly before 11 a.m., approximately 5 miles north of the Pitchess Detention Center, sending alarm bells ringing throughout the community. As the blaze rapidly expanded to over 3,000 acres by noon, concerns mounted about the safety of the inmates and staff within the jail complex.

**Legal Advocacy for Immediate Action**

Lawyers from the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, representing inmates in ongoing class-action lawsuits against the jails, began reaching out to county officials to push for swift evacuation measures. Melissa Camacho, a senior staff attorney at ACLU Southern California, urgently contacted Supervisor Kathryn Barger’s justice deputy, Sandra Croxton, expressing the critical need for immediate evacuation of the four jails.

**Challenges in Evacuation Efforts**

Despite the pressing need for evacuation, the Sheriff’s Department faces challenges due to a shortage of inmate transport buses. With only 20 operational buses out of 82, officials have been working to address the issue by securing funding for new buses. While the first batch of buses arrived in December, the full order is not expected to be complete until August.

**Uncertainties and Safety Concerns**

As the day progressed, the department acknowledged the need for potential evacuations but had not yet initiated the process. With a significant number of inmates, including individuals with mental health issues, housed in the Castaic jail complex, concerns about the logistics and safety of a large-scale evacuation remain at the forefront of discussions.

In conclusion, the urgency for evacuation at the Castaic jail complex underscores the critical need for swift action to ensure the safety and well-being of all individuals in the face of growing wildfire threats. Stay tuned for further updates on this developing situation.