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Fire Marshal Confirms Jail Explosion Was From Natural Gas
May 10, 2014
The Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has confirmed that their on-scene investigation into the the April 30 explosion at the Escambia County Jail “determined that the explosion was the result of a natural gas release into the facility”.
“The on-scene phase of our investigation may be complete, but there is still much to be learned,” said Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshal Jeff Atwater. “Our investigators will continue to work day and night with the ATF and the State Attorney’s Office to uncover all of the answers victims and their families deserve to know.”
The State Fire Marshal’s Office and the ATF will continue their investigation along with the State Attorney’s Office to answer the many remaining questions related to the events preceding the explosion. Further details have not been released, but a full reported will be released at the conclusion of the investigation.
Meanwhile, Fire Marshal has returned control of the Escambia County Central Booking and Detention Center to the county.
The Fire Marshal’s Office and the ATF took control of the property following an April 30th explosion that killed two inmates and injured 184 inmates and corrections staff.
Fire Marshal Investigator Joseph Steadham said in a letter to the Escambia County Commission that the building is continuing to deteriorate, reaching a point that it’s no longer safe for investigators to go inside. However, Steadham noted that the investigation into the cause of the explosion is continuing.
A fence is being constructed around the building to keep people out.
Comments
7 Responses to “Fire Marshal Confirms Jail Explosion Was From Natural Gas”
County should look into utilizing the many closed or soon to be closed schools.
Sho nuff What are you thinking?” Best way to avoid this is stay out of jail.” What about the people that worked there? Just goes to show how ignorant people really are.
I hate it for the victims and families this affected. Someone is a fault and it will come out during the investigation.
Best way to avoid this problem is to stay out of trouble and stay out of jail!
Robert, one additional item:
If or when an inmate reports a gas leak, PAY ATTENTION and call for an immediate investigation into it. The smell is added to natural gas for a reason. It is DANGEROUS when loose in confined spaces.
Robert, everything you say makes common sense. Too bad government and common sense normally don’t belong in the same sentence.
Plenty of space available at the Camp5 site, communications, utilities etc. already in place.
Hopefully, some common sense will prevail in the decision of where to place a new Central Booking and Detention Center.
Just some suggestions:
Build on High ground that is NOT in a flood plain.
Have No Basement.
Put generators, communications and other sensitive areas ABOVE the first or second floors.
Learn from the past, do not repeat the same failures and hope for a different outcome.
With video court appearances and other off-site operations perhaps the facility does not have to be so near the courthouse.
Just sayin’..