(KAIR)--There was a small fire in an electrical box at the Atchison Co Jail early Saturday morning.
Atchison County Sheriff Jack Laurie, in a news release, said the fire affected controls for the lighting and access control for all doors of the secured area of the jail.
The emergency fire response plan was set in motion. The Atchison Fire Department, Atchison Police Department and Atchison County EMS responded to the jail to assist. During the response, several inmates were treated on scene by EMS for complaints related to the smoke. No inmates or staff were transported out of the facility due to medical issues.
Laurie said damage to the electrical panel was severe enough to risk the security of most of the facility, requiring the majority of the current 57 inmates to be transported to other county jail facilities.
It's believed that the cause of the fire was from water penetrating an electrical panel, after an inmate had flooded a nearby cell. Laurie said the Atchison County Jail has encountered similar incidents over the years, however, this incident caused more issues than any in the past. He noted this is the first time that a total loss of power occurred in all secured areas of the jail.
Laurie said the Atchison County Sheriff’s Office has opened a criminal investigation into the incident.
A damage estimate wasn't immediately available.
© Many Signals Communcations
MOST VIEWED STORIES
Holton man killed in Jackson Co crash
Morrill pair arrested on drug, child endangerment charges
Cold case investigation leads to Holton warrant
Horton City Clerk's resignation accepted Monday
Effingham owner regains truck following theft, arrest
Falls City man sentenced to Federal Prison
Ground Broken for new Sac and Fox Trad'n Post
Local residents avoid injury in chain reaction crash
Jackson Co traffic stop leads to arrest
One held for past Atchison shooting
90 mph+ downburst winds blamed for Thursday damage
Wamego man sentenced in second fentanyl-related death
Mayetta pair arrested on meth, child endangerment charges
Stolen trailer, 4-wheeler, recovered in Atchison
Early Thursday storms leave damage, outages, locally
Juveniles face charges following Atchison break-in
Atchison Co's Oswald named honorary bailiff for KS Court
LATEST STORIES
Former Kickapoo Tribal chairman arrested
Atchison company earns energy grant; upgrades planned
Winchester native named as Amberwell CEO
April is Alcohol Awareness Month in Nebraska
MoDOT to discuss Holt County bridge projects
Sheriff's Office to take part in drug take back event
Council hears report from golf course
Commission approves agreement for budget help
Pawnee City School Board approves personnel changes
Hazard mitigation planning meeting set for Atchison County MO