Inmates, officers hurt in jail fire

Two inmates and two officers were injured in the fire that broke out in a jail cell at the Silverdale correctional facility Monday night, according to the Chattanooga Fire Department.

The two inmates received minor burns and suffered from smoke inhalation, Bruce Garner, spokesman for the fire department, said. They were taken to a local hospital for treatment.

Two officers were taken to a local hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation.

Garner said all inmates from that cell block were evacuated. The fire was put out within about five minutes, he said.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation by the fire department and the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, Garner said.

While the fire department confirmed a fire and reported injuries, Amanda Gilchrist, spokeswoman for Silverdale, said in a news release sent minutes before the fire department’s update that all inmates and staff were accounted for and safe after the evacuation. She said onsite medical personnel were evaluating inmates as needed.

Gilchrist said the inmates were evacuated from one of the housing units after smoke was detected in the unit. No mention of fire was made.

Gilchrist later said CoreCivic, the private company that manages Silverdale, was aware of the injuries.