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Electrical fire forces partial evacuation of Washington Parish Jail

Posted at 8:10 AM, Jul 22, 2019
and last updated 2019-07-22 09:10:22-04

Thirty-four inmates were evacuated from the Washington Parish Jail on Sunday night following an electrical fire.

The sheriff's office says that the fire occurred in an air-conditioning system at one of the housing units for the Washington Paris Jail around midnight on July 21.

Staff reportedly noticed smoke entering the housing unit and evacuated the inmates to a secure outdoor area.

The Franklinton Fire Department was notified and responded to the incident. The Franklinton Police Department was also called to the scene to provide security for the inmates.

Officials say that none of the inmates required medical attention due to the smoke.

The thirty-four inmates were moved via bus from the jail to the Rayburn Correctional Center. They will remain at Rayburn until their housing area can be cleaned, according to a release.

The Washington Parish Sheriff's Office says that all other housing units and inmates were not affected by the smoke. Operations are expected to continue as normal at the jail.

Washington Parish Government will begin the search for a contractor to make the needed repairs to the unit's AC system.