Inmates start fire at Santa Barbara County Jail
The Santa Barbara County Jail was on lockdown Sunday evening after inmates started a fire.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department says the fire started in a trash can Sunday around 3:45 p.m. The trash can contained clothes, bedding and other items. When officials tried to evacuate about 25 inmates suspected of starting the fire, the inmates barricaded themselves inside their cells and refused to come out.
NewsChannel 3was toldthey threw debris at firefighters as crews worked to put out the flames.
Sheriff’s deputies were eventually able to evacuate the inmates and firefighters put out the fire.
During the incident, NewsChannel 3 was told at least two fights broke out among the inmates. Officials say one person was hospitalized with a head injury.
The incident is under investigation.