Friday, March 29, 2024

Inmates evacuated after fire starts at jail

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)

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.


 To read the full article, pick up your copy of the Navajo Times at your nearest newsstand Thursday mornings!

Are you a digital subscriber? Read the most recent three weeks of stories by logging in to your online account.

  Find newsstand locations at this link.

Or, subscribe via mail or online here.




About The Author

Bill Donovan

Bill Donovan wrote about Navajo Nation government and its people since 1971. He joined Navajo Times in 1976, and retired from full-time reporting in 2018 to move to Torrance, Calif., to be near his kids. He continued to write for the Times until his passing in August 2022.

ADVERTISEMENT

Weather & Road Conditions

Window Rock Weather

Partly Cloudy

38.0 F (3.3 C)
Dewpoint: 24.1 F (-4.4 C)
Humidity: 57%
Wind: South at 4.6 MPH (4 KT)
Pressure: 29.95

More weather »

ADVERTISEMENT