Decatur Fire Department, Wise County Sheriff’s Office and Wise County jail staff investigate a possible electrical fire Wednesday. AUSTIN JACKSON | WCMESSENGER
Several inmates were temporarily relocated to other areas of the Wise County Law Enforcement Center Wednesday as Decatur Fire Department investigated a reported electrical fire in the ceiling of the jail.
Wise County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Eric Debus said jailers and inmates saw and smelled smoke coming from the vents of the jail near the south side of the building. The fire investigation began at around 5:15 p.m.
Decatur Fire Department crews search in the ceilings for the source of a suspected electrical fire in the Wise County jail Wednesday. AUSTIN JACKSON | WCMESSENGER
A total of 43 inmates were moved out of an abundance of caution, Debus said.
Crews from Decatur Fire Department (DFD) and Wise County EMS assessed the building to locate the source of the smoke, searching through the ceilings for signs of a fire.
Jeff Smith, Decatur Fire Department operations chief, reported at around 7 p.m. that the source of the smoke/odor was traced to a malfunctioning air handling unit.
After DFD rendered the unit safe, Debus said inmates were returned to their cells.
Decatur Police Department assisted inside the jail, while additional Wise County personnel worked the scene, including Fire Marshal Jeff Doughty and county facilities manager Jimmy Counts.
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