What happens if there's a fire in a jail/prison?

Life and safety is (or should be) the first consideration in a jail fire. Evacuation may not be as easy as following the procedure - what if the area planned for evacuation is full of smoke, or on fire too? How are you sure you have gotten everyone out? Once out, who needs to be kept separate from others? read more

There are fire exits, sprinklers, and hoses as with any building. Although, prison building codes are much more different than society building codes. Fire exit doors are magnetically locked, and unlock if a fire alarm goes off. One prison I was at had special cameras near the ceiling to detect the slightest smoke. read more

Typically a prison fire is fairly small because the cells are well isolated and the prison itself is of a concrete block construction. This obviously doesn't prevent mass death from smoke inhalation though. read more

The jail officers will take all the inmates to a pre-designated area, probably a fenced in outside yard. Every available officer will be called to the scene to assist, and probably off-duty jail personnel will be called in—just in case. But once the inmates are evacuated, it will be handled just like any structure fire. read more