EL PASO, Texas -- The haziness in the air outside the Reeves County Detention Center in Pecos, Texas is the aftermath of several fires set by inmates Saturday afternoon. An inmate in the facility contacted KFOX by phone and said the riots began at about 4 p.m. when prison officials placed Ramon Garcia, 25, in solitary confinement after he complained of dizziness and feeling ill.

"All we wanted was for them to give him medical care and because they didn't, things got out of control and people started fires in several offices -- the commissary, infirmary, and kitchen," said the inmate who didn't release his name because he feared repercussion from the guards.

The inmate said about 2,100 inmates forced their way through the doors and into the yard where they spent the night, and all day Sunday in protest.

"I guess, in a sense, they feel like they're fighting for his life," said Lana Williams, a family friend of Garcia.

She said Garcia has been at RCDC for less than a year, and claims the neglect has been ongoing since August.

"He's gotten to the point where he can't walk down the hall without holding on to the wall, and this has been going on and getting progressively worse," said Williams. Garcia has told her he's been placed in solitary confinement whenever he's complained about feeling ill.

KFOX contacted the prison looking for answers and was told they're not commenting. The prison is privately run by Geo Group Inc.

This is the second riot at the RCDC in a couple of months. In December prisoners rioted and set a recreational building on fire. They also took two workers hostage. The riot lasted for hours and the workers were released unharmed.

The inmate who spoke with KFOX said the December riot was over the death of another inmate whose cries for medical care went unattended.

"I think it's absolutely ridiculous that a detention center would let it get to this point. That they would neglect their prisoners to this point that they would feel like they have to riot to get medical attention," said Williams.

In the meantime, inmates are being kept in the prison yard. According to Reeves County dispatchers, tents were going to be provided for the inmates, but KFOX has learned that hasn't happened.

Just to clarify, the riot is against the staff, not among the inmates. Reeves County Sheriff's dispatchers said three inmates were injured and taken to the hospital Saturday, but there is no information on their condition.

Dispatchers also told KFOX the fires destroyed the entire R1 housing unit and R2 also had fire damage. Dispatchers said 700 inmates could be relocated to other facilities.

Hudspeth County Sheriff Arvin West told KFOX he offered to house about 400 inmates at the West Texas Detention Facility, but as of Sunday night it was just a suggestion.

West, who has 12 deputies assisting prison officials with a perimeter around the RCDC said as of 10 p.m. Sunday, the inmates continued burning whatever they could get their hands on in the yard.

He said they are waiting on special tactic teams to get the inmates under control and force them back into the facility. It's unknown what mechanisms will be used.

Currently, several agencies including the Department of Public Safety are assisting with the Pecos riots.