Smoke Forces Evacuation Of Inmates

Smoke in the Kootenai County Jail forced an evacuation of inmates Thursday.

At about 4 p.m. smoke filled a pod in the north end of the jail, according to a Kootenai County Sheriff’s report.

A fight erupted as the inmates were being evacuated to the outside exercise area, according to the report. Sheriff’s deputies were able to control the fight and get inmates to a safe location.

Coeur d’Alene Fire Department officials determined that a faulty lighting ballast caused the smoke.