ATL Jail Fire Injures 5 Inmates, 4 Staffers

ATLANTA, GA — An inmate accused of starting a shower fire with plastic bags Friday at the Fulton County Jail was among the five inmates injured in the blaze that also injured four staff members, authorities said.

The inmate, who was out for free time, used plastic trash bags and a plastic bag with Styrofoam food trays to ignite the fire around 5:15 p.m. Friday in a bottom-tier shower of a 7th floor zone in the Rice Street jail's north tower, the Fulton County Sheriff's Office said.

The bags were placed in a shower and set on fire, prompting thick smoke and flames, authorities said.

Atlanta Fire Rescue responded and quickly extinguished the fire, authorities said.

At the time of the blaze, there were 16 inmates located in the zone, and a total of 118 inmates were on the floor, authorities said. They were moved to the south tower, authorities said.

The fire injured five inmates and four employees, who were taken to a hospital with smoke-inhalation-related injuries, authorities said. One of the inmates was accused of setting the fire, authorities said.

AFRD investigators also responded and are conducting an active investigation.

"(Fulton County) Sheriff Labat wants to thank the FCSO team on duty at the jail at the time of the incident, those who responded, and AFRD for their quick response and coordination to ensure no lives were lost," authorities said in a news release.