A carbon monoxide scare at the Bridgeport Correctional Facility in Wise County sent the entire prison population out the doors today, after staff discovered elevated levels of the dangerous gas inside the unit. Everyone inside — employees and inmates — was pulled from the building while emergency crews moved in to ventilate and test the facility. Officials say the prison population will be temporarily housed elsewhere while specialists track down and repair the source of the leak.
Officials respond and secure the scene
According to The Dallas Morning News, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice reported that the unit at 4000 North Tenth Street was evacuated immediately once high carbon monoxide readings were detected. Inmates are being transported to other nearby state facilities while the prison remains offline for repairs.
Wise County Emergency Services District 3 asked the public to steer clear of the area while crews worked the scene, The Dallas Morning News noted. The outlet also reported that the cause of the buildup is still under investigation by the Terrell fire marshal's office, along with facility maintenance staff and private contractors brought in to help.
Nearby medical checks after alarms
The Terrell Fire Department told The Dallas Morning News that "75 people were evaluated" at a Terrell medical facility as a precaution, and "three people were transported" to hospitals for additional checks. Officials did not immediately attribute any serious injuries to the carbon monoxide levels, stressing that the medical evaluations were largely out of an abundance of caution.
Investigators said further testing and inspections are underway to determine how carbon monoxide built up inside the correctional building and to make sure it is safe before anyone goes back in.
Unit details and logistics
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice unit directory lists the Bridgeport Unit, located at 4000 North Tenth Street in Bridgeport, as a men's facility with a capacity of about 520 inmates, according to TDCJ. The listing notes that the prison has basic ambulatory medical services and telemedicine support on site. State officials and local partners are coordinating short-term inmate transfers and planning repairs to bring the facility back to normal operations.
Why carbon monoxide alarms matter
Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that can poison people before they realize anything is wrong, health officials warn. The CDC lists common symptoms of exposure, including headache, dizziness, nausea, and confusion, and urges people to use working carbon monoxide detectors and ensure good ventilation when using fuel-burning appliances.
CDC guidance also recommends regularly testing CO detectors and keeping generators and other combustion equipment outside and away from doors, windows, and vents.
Investigators say the probe into the Bridgeport incident is ongoing, with more details to come as they learn what caused the leak. Residents with questions or concerns have been urged to follow instructions from local emergency responders and to double-check carbon monoxide detectors in homes and businesses.
