The Bell County Detention Center must be empty by Wednesday after workers were unable to repair an issue with the smoke evacuation system.
The Kentucky Department of Corrections (KDC) ordered the jail closed by December 1, 2019, but gave the facility an extension after jail staff made minimal progress correcting violations related to the system, according to The Associated Press.
After recently re-evaluating the fire system, KDC officials determined the smoke evacuation system was inoperable, leaving inmate living areas unprotected in a fire.
KDC has the authority to close a jail if there is a violation of health and life safety protection regulations.
As of early Monday morning, the detention center was housing 138 inmates, according to the jail website.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
