Inmates evacuated after fire starts at jail
A McKinley County Sheriff's deputy carries a gas mask with him while responding to a riot at the McKinley County Detention Center on Thursday in Gallup. (Times photo - Donovan Quintero)
A McKinley County Sheriff’s deputy carries a gas mask with him while responding to a riot at the McKinley County Detention Center on Thursday in Gallup. (Times photo – Donovan Quintero)
GALLUP
A McKinley County Detention Center inmate is led out of the jail and tended to by an EMT on Thursday in Gallup. (Times photo – Donovan Quintero)
Lt. James Maiorano of the McKinley County Sheriff’s Office said the call about the fire came in about 1:30 p.m.
Before the fire, county officials reported a plumbing problem in the pod, caused by backed up pipes. As prisoners were being transported out of the pod, some of the inmates started a fire, which cause a massive response of fire engines and police units who close down the streets.
Maiorano said no one was injured and order was restored by 3:30 p.m. jail officials were still trying to estimate the amount of damage Thursday afternoon.
A total of 33 inmates had to be evacuated to other pods.
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