A contraband sweep at the Muscogee County Jail on Tuesday turned into a smoky mess when inmates in a South Tower dorm reportedly set a makeshift wick inside a ventilation shaft. Deputies and Columbus police scrambled to move hundreds of people while staff worked to contain the smoke and get medical help to anyone who needed it. The sheriff’s office says the whole episode is now part of a criminal investigation.
What officials say
According to the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were in the middle of cell shakedowns when they uncovered several banned items, including handmade weapons. After the contraband was confiscated, some inmates allegedly retaliated by twisting tissue into wicks and placing them inside a ventilation system, which kicked out heavy smoke. As a precaution, staff relocated about 500 inmates to secure and nonsecure areas while on- and off-duty deputies and Columbus police responded. K9 units were brought in, and the jail’s medical provider evaluated and treated anyone who required care, according to WSB-TV.
Facility strain and past scrutiny
The fire scare highlighted long-running worries about the aging jail and its crowded housing conditions, issues local officials have been wrestling with for years. Updated schematic designs presented to the Columbus Council this spring put the price tag for a replacement jail at more than $480 million, reporting from the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer shows. A decades-old settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice laid out requirements to fix fire, electrical and environmental safety problems at the facility, a legacy that still shapes renovation plans and oversight today, per the Justice Department and local reporting.
Investigation underway
The sheriff’s office said the incident "remains under criminal investigation," and officials have not released details about injuries or arrests, according to WSB-TV. Investigators are expected to review physical evidence, surveillance footage and witness statements to determine who is responsible and what criminal charges could follow from the blaze.
What’s next
Columbus leaders were already reviewing options to replace or renovate the jail, and this latest incident could sharpen the focus on safety and capacity needs, the Ledger-Enquirer reported. County and sheriff’s office officials say they will share more details as the investigation moves forward.
