ORANGE – A minimum security inmate assigned to fight the Canyon Fire 2 walked away from his post on Sunday, Oct. 15, according to corrections officials.

Armando Castillo, 31, was last seen at around 4:45 p.m. near Peters Canyon Regional Park before crews returned to Prado Conservation Camp in San Bernardino County.

Castillo was assigned to the Oak Glen Conservation Camp in Yucaipa to help battle the fire that started Oct. 9 and has spread to 9,200-plus acres in northeastern Orange County but, by Monday, had been nearly contained.

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OC sheriff’s employees suspected of falsifying their reserve military orders to get paid time off Castillo was serving a five-year sentence that started in August 2016, assigned from Los Angeles County, for possession of a firearm and evading a peace officer while driving recklessly. He was scheduled to be released to probation in May 2018.

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Cal Fire, the California Highway Patrol and local law enforcement agencies were helping with the search.

Officials said there were about 500 inmates assigned to the blaze.

Castillo is Hispanic, 5 feet 11 and weighs 191 pounds. He has brown eyes and black hair.

Anyone who sees Castillo should call 911 or police immediately. Anyone with information of his whereabouts is asked to contact 209-984-5291, ext. 5439, or the Oak Glen Conservation Camp at 909-797-0196.