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January 25, 2008

Update: Not fire, but chemical reaction, at Intake Center

CRANSTON -- What officials initially thought was a fire turned out to be a smoky chemical reaction in a laundry room this afternoon at the Intake Center at the Adult Correctional Institutions.

Prison officials evacuated inmates, staff and visitors after the reaction involving chlorine bleach occurred around 3:05 p.m.

Tracey Z. Poole, a spokeswoman for the ACI, said there were no injuries.

Poole said Cranston firefighters encountered thick smoke and strong odors. And Cranston fire officials said the department dispatched its hazardous materials team to help contain the problem.

Poole said the ACI, on the advice of the hazardous material team, will move about 60 inmates with cells above the laundry room to vacant cells in another part of the building.

It was unclear, by 6 p.m., what had caused the chemical reaction.

Poole said there was no reason to expect foul play.

Male prisoners stay in the Intake Center until they have been sentenced and classified. The building also includes a visitors’ area.

-- Journal staff writer David Scharfenberg

Posted by Brandie Jefferson  at 6:28 PM | Permalink

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