Inmates evacuated from Clallam Bay Corrections Center; fire crew en route

Published 10:37 pm Wednesday, March 25, 2009

CLALLAM BAY — Firefighters raced to the Clallam Bay Corrections Center, and 130 inmates were evacuated, because of smoke late Wednesday night.

A PenCom dispatcher confirmed at about 9:30 p.m. that crews with Fire District 5, which serves Clallam Bay and Sekiu, were en route to the prison after a report of a possible fire.

“We have smoke at present. No fire,” said a prison official who identified himself as a Lt. K. McKenney.

“It appears to be that a belt caused smoke to come up through the vent,” he said.

He confirmed that 130 inmates, as well as correctional officers, had been evacuated.

At 10:30 p.m., fire department crews were checking the area, he said. If no fire was found, then inmates would be returned to the facility.