Smoke reported in county jail, no damages

Two firefighters stand at the back entrance of the Cole County Jail on Friday. The fire department received a structure fire call, and emergency responders determined it was an HVAC system that caused smoke in the building.
Two firefighters stand at the back entrance of the Cole County Jail on Friday. The fire department received a structure fire call, and emergency responders determined it was an HVAC system that caused smoke in the building.

Turning on the heating system for the first time this fall prompted a report of smoke in the Cole County Jail, causing the Jefferson City Fire Department to be dispatched Friday morning.

Crews were called to the jail around 10 a.m. after a report of smoke in one of the cell areas, according to fire department reports.

"We worked with the sheriff's department to make sure that everyone in the area was moved out," Fire Department Division Chief Jason Turner said. "No one was injured, and we worked inside the facility for about an hour and a half, clearing smoke out of the area."

"The area where this occurred has two inmate pods, which can handle up to 48 people," Cole County Sheriff's Department Capt. John Wheeler said. "Those who were in those pods were moved to a safe location in the facility. The jail staff does do training for fires in the jail, and everything worked like it should."

Wheeler said the HVAC system where this occurred had a compressor replaced this summer. During that replacement, cooling fluid sprayed onto the elements of the heater portion, making them dirty. When the system was turned on Friday, the fluid burned off, causing the smoke.