Vent Catches On Fire At Jail

In the early a.m. hours this morning an exhaust fan in the ceiling of one of the general population cell blocks at the Chattooga County Jail caught fire. A fire extinguisher was used to help put out the fire and the Summerville Fire department was also called in. The inmates were evacuated into a secured recreation yard while the fire department ensured that the fire was extinguished. No inmates were injured and once the cell block was cleared of smoke they were moved back into their assigned cells. At this time we believe the damage to be limited to the fan and the area that contains it. “I would like to thank the fire fighters that responded for their quick response and the jail officers and patrol deputies for their quick actions in evacuating the inmates to lessen their exposure to the fire and smoke”. -Sheriff Mark A. Schrader.