1,450 inmates at 3 Salem state prisons evacuated due to wildfires threat

All were moved to Oregon State Penitentiary

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The Oregon Department of Corrections said Tuesday it has evacuated nearly 1,500 inmates from three Salem prisons due to threats from the Beachie Creek and Lionshead wildfires, moving them to the Oregon State Penitentiary.

All employees and adults in custody (AICs) from the Oregon State Correctional Institution, Santiam Correctional Institution and Mill Creek Correctional Facility have been relocated to the Oregon State Penitentiary.

These three Salem institutions are in potential danger as the fires move down the Santiam Canyon, officials said. DOC said it worked with Oregon State Police and the State Fire Marshal to keep everyone who works and lives inside these prisons safe.

A total of 1,450 AICs have been relocated. They are not being released from custody, the agency stressed. All AICs will be housed in emergency beds throughout the institution.

Employees from OSCI, SCI, and MCCF will work at the prison to ensure appropriate staffing levels. AICs will be housed with others from their home institution whenever possible.

The agency is responsible for the care and custody of 14,000 men and women who are incarcerated in the 14 institutions across the state.

The Oregon State Penitentiary in Salem houses over 2,000 individuals. OSP is surrounded by a 25-foot-high wall, with 10 towers. The facility has multiple special housing units including death row, disciplinary segregation, behavioral health, intermediate care housing, and an infirmary (with hospice) with 24-hour nursing care.

OSP participates in prison industries with Oregon Corrections Enterprises including the furniture factory, laundry, metal shop, and contact center. It provides a range of correctional programs and services including education, work-based education, inmate work crews, and pre-release services. OSP was established in 1866 and, until 1959, was Oregon's only prison.