(CMR) There was a fire incident this evening at the Her Majesty's Cayman Islands Prison Service. Reports starting streaming in around 9:49 pm that three fire trucks were in route to Northward.
Shortly after that we received another report that there was a fire at the prison. Additional sources have confirmed that a prisoner was responsible for the situation.
Sources have informed Cayman Marl Road that Dalton Robinson Jr. (21) from Bodden Town started a fire in his prison cell in an attempt to break out. Two fire rescue vehicles and several police vehicles included an armed unit were quickly at the prison after the incident.
A prison officer attempted to extinguish the fire and in the commotion the prisoner ingested some of the powder from the extinguisher. There are other reports that he may have been injured from the fire itself and required medical attention as a result.
That officer was also reportedly injured.
Robinson Jr. was recently arrested on Monday (1 October) at a residence on Birch Tree Hill Road, West Bay. That residence was broken into at around 3:30 a.m. that day. Police say the man had unlawfully entered the residence, caused damage to items inside, and stole an item from the residence.
He later returned to the scene of the crime that same day and was arrested and formally charged with burglary, criminal trespass and damage to property and was remanded into custody.
This is a developing story and will be updated once more information is available.
UPDATE: Official Response
Small Fire Quickly Extinguished at Northward
Grand Cayman (GIS) –The public are advised that yesterday evening (Thursday, 11 October 2018) a resident at HMP Northward lit a small fire within the cell of which he was the sole occupant. The fire was quickly extinguished by prison staff.
As is routine in such incidents, emergency services were called. The Cayman Islands Fire Service (CIFS) attended to confirm that the fire was fully extinguished and the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service was also present.
The prisoner who lit the fire was taken by ambulance to hospital for examination as a result of smoke inhalation.
Director of Prisons Steve Barrett said,
“Fire has the potential to create destructive levels of smoke and within a prison environment, the risks associated with this are significantly amplified. I am extremely grateful for the swift intervention of the prison staff in dealing with the situation so competently and effectively. The quick response of our emergency service partners is also hugely appreciated”
CIFS are conducting an investigation as required by law to establish the cause of the fire and an internal Prison Service review of the incident will follow as is routine for such events.
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