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Metro West Prison Evacuated Due To Brush Fire

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Apr 28, 2008 10:58 pm US/Eastern

Metro West Prison Evacuated Due To Brush Fire

383 Inmates Were Transferred By Bus

Fire Burned 80 Acres, Now Under Control

High Risk Prisoners Remained Inside The Jail
NW MIAMI DADE (CBS4) ― The brush fire that evacuated hundreds of inmates from the Metro West Detention Center in West Miami-Dade Monday is now under control, after burning 80 acres.

Jail officials say 383 inmates were loaded onto buses and taken to other jails in the county including the Turner Gilford Knight Correctional Facility near Miami International Airport. Others were taken to a Broward Sheriff's Office facility. This was only done as a precaution because the fire was burning very close to the Metro West complex.

The jail houses 2,500 inmates, but the high risk convicts were not moved.


 The fire broke out Monday afternoon near Northwest 137th Avenue and Northwest 17th Street; dangerously close to the county's jail facility and Florida's Detention Center and the Reception Center.

Forestry officials say the blaze has scorched about 80 acres and grew rapidly. However, by 10p.m. most of the fire was under control, and fire officials were on scene to make sure any hot spots didn't flare up again.

Access to the road for residents who live in the area was reopened.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue helicopters were performing water drops to try and bring the flames under control. They have been using water from a nearby lake to fill up giant bags with water and then dropping the water on the fire.

No injuries have been reported so far.

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