DANDRIDGE, Tenn. — A small fire broke out at a youth detention facility in Dandridge on Thursday, prompting evacuations from one of the facility's buildings. But by 4:20 p.m., Mountain View Youth Development said it was contained and no injuries were reported. A statement from the facility is available below.
“There was a small kitchen fire that was quickly contained. No staff or residents were injured. We appreciate the swift response of Dandridge Fire and Emergency Services.”
Carson Williams, the Dandridge Chief of Police, said the fire was reported in the kitchen area of Mountain View Youth Development's administration building. He said he was not sure how large the fire was, but said several fire departments were called to the scene.
He said kids at Mountain View are kept in separate buildings and said they were placed in lockdown after the fire broke out. He said law enforcement from across Jefferson County were called in to help, including troopers from the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
He said law enforcement was called because gates to the facility needed to be kept open so firefighter crews could put out the fire.
Mountain View is one of two state-run juvenile detention facilities in the state. It houses young offenders convicted of crimes ranging from truancy to rape and murder.