Five inmates and four Fulton County Jail staff members were taken to a local hospital with smoke inhalation injuries after an inmate started a fire at approximately 5:15 p.m. on Dec. 12.
The Fulton County Sheriff’s Office reported in a news release that preliminary information revealed that an inmate out for free time started a fire in a bottom-tier shower of a zone on the seventh floor in the jail’s north tower. The inmate collected plastic trash bags and a plastic bag with Styrofoam food trays. He placed them in a shower and set them on fire, which caused thick smoke and flames.
Atlanta Fire Rescue Department (AFRD) firefighters responded, located the fire, and extinguished it. According to the release, AFRD investigators are conducting an active investigation.
Sixteen inmates were in the zone where the fire occurred, according to the release. The 118 inmates on that floor were moved to the south tower.