FIRE
INVESTIGATORS ARE TRYING TO DETERMINE WHAT STARTED A BLAZE THAT RIPPED THROUGH
A NEARLY 140-YEAR-OLD CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA PRISON, PROMPTING THE EVACUATION OF
MORE THAN 200 INMATES
SUNBURY (AP) — Fire investigators are trying to
determine what started a blaze that ripped through a nearly 140-year-old
central Pennsylvania prison, prompting the evacuation of more than 200 inmates.
The fire was reported Wednesday afternoon at the
Northumberland County prison in Sunbury, a city of 10,000 about 40 miles north
of Harrisburg.
Flames and thick smoke could be seen shooting from the
roof of the stone building with castle-like parapets, which was built in the
late 1800s and sits a few blocks from the banks of the Susquehanna River.
No injuries were reported to staff or the 208 inmates,
who initially were taken under heavy guard to a nearby church.
County officials said the male and female inmates were
being moved to separate state prisons nearby, and a neighboring county had
agreed to house new inmates brought in following the fire.
A state prison spokeswoman said that she could not
discuss any prison transfers because of security concerns.
County Commissioner Chairman Vinny Clausi said the
building appeared to be a “total loss” and called it “a sad day for taxpayers.”
Commissioner Stephen Bridy said the building is insured
for $9.3 million plus $1 million in expenses, which he said would be enough to
offset the cost of a new facility if one is needed.
Officials said a long-term plan for housing the
displaced prisoners would be discussed today during a conference call between
county and state officials.
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FIREFIGHTERS AGAIN
BATTLING FLAMES AT PENNSYLVANIA PRISON
SUNBURY, Pa. (AP) — Firefighters were back at a nearly
140-year-old central Pennsylvania prison Thursday morning after a blaze that
prompted the evacuation of more than 200 inmates reignited.
Flames were seen around 6 a.m. Thursday shooting up the
stone walls of a tower at the Northumberland County Prison in Sunbury, a city
of 10,000 about 40 miles north of Harrisburg.
The original fire broke out Wednesday afternoon. It took
firefighters more than eight hours to extinguish that blaze.
Thick smoke could be seen billowing from the roof of the
stone building with castle-like parapets, which was built in the late 1800s and
sits a few blocks from the banks of the Susquehanna River.
No injuries were reported to staff or the 208 inmates,
who initially were taken under heavy guard to nearby Faith United Methodist
Church.
The Rev. Ronald Troup, the church's pastor, said he
received a call shortly after the fire broke out from a county commissioner
requesting to use the sanctuary as temporary shelter for the inmates.
"When he called, we opened up" our doors,
Troup said.
County officials said the male and female inmates were
being moved to separate state prisons nearby, and a neighboring county had
agreed to house new inmates brought in following the fire. Troup said the last
inmates were brought out of the church at about 6 p.m.
The Department of Corrections was coordinating with
county officials to determine how long the inmates would be at the state's
facilities, department spokeswoman Susan Bensinger said.
County Commissioner Chairman Vinny Clausi said the
building appeared to be a "total loss" and called it "a sad day
for taxpayers."
Commissioner Stephen Bridy said the building is insured
for $9.3 million plus $1 million in expenses, which he said would be enough to
offset the cost of a new facility if one is needed.
Officials said a long-term plan for housing the
displaced prisoners would be discussed during a conference call between county
and state officials Thursday.