There were no injuries reported after a dryer caught fire in the laundry room at the Charles B. Webster Detention Center on Thursday, April 24.
According to Richmond County Sheriff’s Office Chief of Staff Lewis Blanchard, the fire was discovered at 8:09 p.m. when a large commercial dryer caught fire and spread to the immediate area. A second dryer was damaged during the fire. Detention Center Sergeant Chad Dodaro responded immediately by using a nearby fire extinguisher to help extinguish the flames until the Augusta-Richmond County Fire Department could arrive on scene. The sprinkler system was also activated, which helped to contain the blaze, but did contributed to water damage in the affected area.
Following protocol, the female ward, which is adjacent to the area, was evacuated, Blanchard said.
“Deputies from various divisions established perimeters around the double fence line to ensure the continued security of the facility,” Blanchard said.
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The fire department was able to quickly extinguish the fire, install fans and remove smoke from the area. The fire department confirmed the source of the fire was most likely kitchen towels that still had some cleaning chemicals on them, along with small amounts of grease.
“Due to the elevated temperatures produced by industrial dryers, which are significantly larger and hotter than household models, the materials ignited and caused the fire,” Blanchard said.
Central EMS was also on scene as a precaution, though no injuries were reported.
RCSO Sheriff Eugene Brantley thanked everyone for the quick response.
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“The quick thinking and brave actions of Sergeant Dodaro, the fast response of our firefighters, and the commitment of our deputies ensured that this incident was handled swiftly and safely,” Brantley said. “We are fortunate to have such dedicated public safety professionals serving our community.”
Cleanup efforts are underway, and repairs and equipment replacements will occur, Blanchard said. He added that all inmates are secure within the facility and operations have returned to normal.
