Blaze at Pima County Jail Triggers Massive Inmate Evacuation of 380

Nearly 400 inmates were evacuated from the Pima County jail on Friday night following a fire that broke out in the facility’s annex, officials reported.

Around 8:24 p.m., an electrical fire ignited in the maintenance area of the Main Jail Annex at the Pima County Adult Detention Center, according to Deputy Keith Bee. Although the fire was contained away from inmate housing, precautionary measures led to the evacuation of approximately 380 individuals.

Two corrections officers required hospital assessment, while others received on-site medical attention from paramedics, Bee added.

The Tucson Fire Department responded swiftly and managed to extinguish the fire.

All inmates and corrections officers have been accounted for, and the evacuated prisoners will undergo medical clearance, Bee assured.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by detectives from the Pima County Sheriff’s Department’s arson unit. Despite the incident, the jail facility “remains secure,” Bee emphasized.

The Pima County jail complex, which includes a main tower built in 1979, underwent expansions in 1988 and 2004 to address growing needs.

A commission last year highlighted severe infrastructure issues at the jail, such as wall cracks, significant water leaks during rainfall, and persistent plumbing problems, raising concerns about the facility’s condition.