Dub Brassell detention center smoke incident detailed in fire report

A fire department report provides details regarding a September 8 incident at the W. C. ‘Dub’ Brassell Adult Detention Center in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Firefighters responded to the facility after reports of smoke, encountering heavy smoke within a pod. The investigation determined that the smoke originated from burning material inside a return air duct.

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office previously disputed social media claims of a fire, stating there was ‘no fire’ and characterizing such reports as misinformation. According to the sheriff’s office, inmates created a smoldering makeshift wick using toilet tissue and placed it into the ventilation system, which caused the smoke to spread.